The memo analyzes the political, historical, and social context of the Ecuadorian government’s position regarding renewal of the bilateral agreement that allows for U.S. military use of the Manta base. While the Correa government has made headlines for its pronouncements on Manta, the memo makes clear that the Manta base agreement has been problematic for Ecuadorians for years, and that national sentiment across the political spectrum is strongly against renewing the agreement when it expires in November 2009.