By Luis De Jesus
Nicolás Maduro expressed his “absolute support” for Honduran President Xiomara Castro, saying that she is the victim of a “cruel and excessive attack” by the United States, after the president decided to end the bilateral extradition treaty with the North American country.
“On behalf of all the people of Venezuela, I express my full support for the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, who is the victim of a cruel and excessive attack by those who have spread terror in our America,” Maduro said in a message posted on Telegram.
Maduro also praised Castro for taking a step towards “consolidating national independence and sovereignty” and stressed that Latin American people admire his courage and bravery.
“We are obliged by history to close ranks in the battle for the dignity of our country, against the imperial and neocolonial pretensions that are launched against the noble Honduran people from the United States of America,” added the Venezuelan president.
The president’s decision to annul the extradition treaty with the United States came amid growing diplomatic tension with the US ambassador in Tegucigalpa, Laura Dogu.
The controversy arose after the diplomat criticized a meeting between Honduran authorities and Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
On Thursday, Castro said he would not allow the extradition treaty to be used to “intimidate or blackmail” the Honduran Armed Forces. He stressed his concern that the mechanism could be used as a “political weapon” against officials in his government.
On Friday, Honduras’ National Defense and Security Council backed the president’s decision and accused the United States of trying to destabilize the Honduran government.
Following a council meeting, Honduran Security Minister Gustavo Sanchez said Castro had been given “a vote of confidence and full support” in the face of what he described as “attacks and threats” from the U.S. embassy that seek to undermine Honduras’ democratic institutions and the mandate of the people who elected Castro.
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