Ecuador military crisis to test Correa's mettle

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa faces a stiff battle to increase his influence over the military, after his top commanders quit and ended his honeymoon with an institution that ousted three presidents in a decade.

Correa's strong popularity should shield him from major fallout, but experts say the leftist must tread carefully. The armed forces have strong economic ties and for years have been a major arbitrator of the Andean country's unstable politics.

Correa fired his defense minister on Tuesday and three top military commanders quit in protest a day later after the president claimed their intelligence units shared data with the United States during a border crisis with Colombia in March.

"Correa has a clear advantage because of his high popularity and divisions inside the military, but there will always be a risk if he does not implement real changes to the institution," said Bertha Garcia, a military expert at Quito's Catholic University.

"If he wins this battle with the military, he would secure stability for his leftist policies," she added.

A popular former economy minister who took office just over a year ago, Correa has already won over Congress and increased his influence over top courts as he vows to challenge Ecuador's corrupt elites.

Since Ecuador returned to democracy in 1979, the armed forces have played a central role in the country's politics, helping oust the last three elected presidents by withdrawing their backing during congressional upheaval and protests.

Correa last week accused the military of delivering intelligence to the CIA, which he said shared it with U.S.-ally Colombia after Bogota's raid on a rebel camp inside Ecuador sparked a diplomatic spat between the neighbors.

He shunned an urgent request from military bosses to discuss his criticism, and in a surprise move replaced his defense minister with a close ally, who has vowed more civilian checks over the institution.

"This government is not a puppet... we will not allow them (military) to trample over our authority and democratic legitimacy," Correa said after naming new military leaders on Wednesday.

"We are not going to allow our intelligence officers to report directly to the CIA."

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce U.S. critic and Correa ally, expressed solidarity for Correa's condemnation of suspected U.S. infiltration in its spy agencies.

A member of Correa's inner circle of advisors told Reuters that the military is not considered an immediate threat to the government, and said it had been Correa's goal to boost his influence among the troops since the start of his government.

"This process of change was accelerated by the Colombian crisis," said the official, who asked not be named because he was not allowed to speak on the matter. "You need to get close to the military in this country, but you also need to make it more professional and subjected to civilian rule."

Ecuadoreans widely trust the armed forces for their performance in repeated border clashes with Peru, and the military holds major interests in industries ranging from airlines to banana farms.

Correa has not threatened the military's business holdings, and mid-level officers say the soldiers are not unhappy with Correa, who has raised salaries and granted major state contracts to several units.

"The top ranks' discontent doesn't reflect what the troops are feeling," said a Navy captain who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak. "Correa can make changes, but military support will depend on how far he goes."

(Reporting by Alonso Soto; editing by Patricia Zengerle)