Honduran President Accuses U.S. of Interference

Honduran President Xiomara Castro has accused the U.S. of meddling in Honduras' politics after its ambassador raised concerns over a meeting between Honduran and Venezuelan defense officials. The U.S. ambassador's comments hinted at links to drug trafficking, which Castro strongly refuted as a threat to Honduran sovereignty.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro accused Washington of interference on Wednesday after the U.S. ambassador expressed concern about a meeting between Honduran and Venezuelan defense officials.

'The interference and interventionism of the United States, as well as its intention to direct the politics of Honduras through its embassy and other representatives, is intolerable,' the leftist leader said in a post on social media. U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Laura Dogu told local TV reporters that the U.S. was concerned after a meeting last week between Honduran Defense Minister Jose Manuel Zelaya and his Venezuelan counterpart, Vladimir Padrino.

Zelaya was joined by the country's head of the military joint chiefs of staff. Dogu said she was 'surprised' they met with 'drug traffickers.' The United States indicted Padrino on drug trafficking charges in 2020.

'Insinuating or implicating us as drug traffickers and disqualifying our authorities is really a direct threat to our independence and sovereignty,' Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said on social media. The U.S. embassy in Honduras did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Castro, a leftist former first lady, took office in 2022, ending the eight-year rule of Juan Orlando Hernandez, a one-time U.S. ally who was extradited to the U.S. after Castro took office and has since been convicted and sentenced in U.S. courts on drug trafficking charges.

(With inputs from agencies.)