Admiral James Stavridis, chief of the U.S. Southern Command stated on April 21, 2008 that there were no plans to find a replacement drug-interdiction air base in South America if Ecuador declined to renew the lease of Manta.
Admiral James Stavridis, pimpinan Komando Selatan AS menyatakan pada tanggal 21 April 2008 bahwa tidak ada rencana untuk mencari pangkalan udara penanggulangan narkoba pengganti di Amerika Selatan jika Ekuador menolak memperbarui penyewaan pangkalan Manta.