Honduras announces decision to terminate extradition treaty with the United States

On August 28 local time, Honduran Foreign Minister Reina announced that in view of the inappropriate remarks made by the US ambassador to Honduras on the meeting between Honduran and Venezuelan defense officials, interfering in Honduran internal affairs and trying to force Honduras to accept the US policy stance, Honduras has decided to terminate the extradition treaty with the United States that has lasted for more than a century.

Earlier in the day, Honduran President Xiomara Castro also posted on social media, condemning US interference and interventionism, as well as its act of interfering in Honduran political affairs through the embassy and other representatives, saying that such acts of wanton attacks, disregard and violation of the principles of international law are intolerable. She also ordered Honduran Foreign Minister Reina to start withdrawing from the extradition treaty with the United States.

Previously, Laura Dogu, the US ambassador to Honduras, told the media that the United States is concerned about the meeting between the Honduran defense minister and the Venezuelan defense minister, and is "surprised" that Honduran defense ministry officials "meet with drug traffickers." Honduran Foreign Minister Reina refuted that Honduran officials went to Venezuela to participate in the Fourth World Military Academy Cadet Games. Dogu's remarks are a direct attack on Honduran independence and sovereignty.

The extradition treaty between Honduras and the United States has a history of a hundred years. In the past ten years, 50 Hondurans accused of drug trafficking have been extradited to the United States. Honduran former president Juan Orlando Hernández was indicted by the US Department of Justice after leaving office in 2022. In April of the same year, he was extradited to the United States. In June this year, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking.

As for Honduras' decision to terminate the extradition treaty, the US embassy in Honduras has not responded yet. This incident has attracted widespread attention from the international community and also highlights Honduras' dissatisfaction with US interference in its internal affairs and its determination to safeguard national sovereignty. The subsequent development trend and its impact on bilateral relations remain to be further observed.