Ecuador turns down ALBA

Ecuador's president Rafael Correa has decided not to join the Venezuela-led group of nations known as ALBA. The bloc, whose other member are Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, is supposed to be an answer to US influence in the region. In reality it does little to boost economic integration and instead serves as a vehicle for Venezuelan aid and influence.

Ecuador, having oil of it's own, is in no dire need of Chávez's crude. On the other hand the country does want to strenghen economic ties with the US, just not via a Free Trade agreement, at least according to analyst Hugo Barber.

Also, Correa is facing looming defeat in a referendum to approve a new constitution. He's even less likely to win that poll if his government is percieved to be under the thumb of Hugo Chávez.