Honduras stated it will finish its longstanding extradition treaty with the US on Wednesday in response to criticism from the nation’s US ambassador over a gathering between Honduran and Venezuelan officers.
Enrique Reyna, Honduran Overseas Minister, published a letter on social media Wednesday night time expressing “the choice of the Authorities of the Republic of Honduras to terminate the extradition treaty” after Honduran President Xiomara Castro accused the US of interfering in his affairs. Mrs. Castro said “The intention of the US to direct Honduran coverage via its embassy and different representatives is unacceptable.”
Honduran officers had been outraged after Laura Dogue, the US ambassador to the nation, told local reporters on Wednesday that she was “stunned” to see the Honduran protection minister and a prime common “sitting subsequent to a Venezuelan drug trafficker” — referring to a gathering final week between Honduran officers and Venezuela’s protection minister below President Nicolas Maduro, the authoritarian chief, who has been in energy since 2013.
In an area tv interview, Mr. Reyna said The American ambassador’s feedback undermined the authority of Basic Roosevelt Leonel Hernández, the Honduran navy chief who attended the assembly, even suggestive that some armed forces are actually making an attempt to switch it.
Together with Mr. Maduro and different members of his inside circle, Basic Vladimir Padrino Lopez, Venezuela’s protection chief, was indicted in 2020 by US prosecutors with conspiracy to smuggle medication. Two years earlier, the US authorities imposed sanctions on him.
Linking two Honduran officers to a Venezuelan chief indicted by US prosecutors, Mr Reyna stated he feared the extradition treaty might be used as a “political weapon”.
The extradition treaty, in impact since 1912, has been used to extradite dozens of Honduran politicians to the US — most notably former President Juan Orlando Hernandezwho was extradited in 2022. He was convicted in March in federal court docket in Manhattan of conspiring to import cocaine into the US, amongst different fees, and convicted to 45 years in jail.
Prior to now decade, no less than 38 folks have been extradited to the US for involvement in drug trafficking, together with officers, law enforcement officials and mayors.
The suspension of the contract will take impact in six months, Mr. Reyna said.
The U.S. Embassy in Honduras and the Honduran Ministry of Overseas Affairs didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The USA and Honduras have lengthy been allies, with Honduras internet hosting American troops at a navy base within the central a part of the nation. US authorities depend on Honduran help in issues associated to drug trafficking and immigration. However there have been a couple of tense moments over time, together with Honduras final yr dropping official links with Taiwan, which is strongly supported by the US, and establishing relations with China.
After Venezuela’s presidential election in July, Ms. Castro and Mr. Reyna publicly congratulated Mr. Maduro on his self-proclaimed victory, whereas many worldwide leaders, together with President Biden, condemned the declare and said the government had not released any tallied results proving Mr. Maduro’s victory.
