Key Takeaways:

• Honduran President Xiomara Castro confirms continuation of the extradition treaty with the US.
• The decision includes safeguards aimed at protecting Honduras's sovereignty.
• The treaty, established over a century ago, is critical for extraditing high-profile criminals, including ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez.
• The agreement follows concerns over US intervention in Honduran politics, sparked by recent diplomatic tensions.
• Castro's reversal comes amid a complex backdrop of migration discussions and military cooperation with the US.

Honduras is set to continue its long-standing extradition treaty with the United States, as announced by President Xiomara Castro. She posted on social media affirming that an agreement with the US administration would carry "safeguards" to ensure respect for Honduras’s sovereignty and the integrity of its armed forces. This marks an unexpected shift from her administration’s previous intentions to allow the treaty to lapse, reported Al Jazeera.

Initially, Castro's government proclaimed in August that it would terminate the treaty, expressing discontent with perceived US meddling in Honduran affairs. This sentiment intensified after US Ambassador Laura Dogu has raised concerns regarding a meeting between Honduran officials and Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, who has been linked to drug trafficking allegations in the US.

In the new agreement, Castro emphasized the need for the treaty's application to be “objective,” ensuring it would not be influenced by political motives. “I have reached an agreement with the new United States administration so that the Extradition Treaty will continue with the necessary safeguards for the State of Honduras,” she stated in her announcement. This decision was greatly influenced by the US's insistence on keeping the treaty active, which has facilitated the extradition of various crime figures, including former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the US.

The Honduran Foreign Minister, Eduardo Enrique Reina, clarified that this agreement is part of broader discussions between the two nations covering several pressing issues such as migration and military collaboration. The extradition treaty will reportedly ensure that cases handled under it remain strictly legal and non-political, standing in contrast to Castro's earlier proclivity towards ending it.

Castro's latest decision is seen as a critical move to stabilize both her administration and the upcoming electoral process, with Reina emphasizing the importance of maintaining the country's democratic integrity amidst pressures surrounding drug trafficking and allegations against government officials.

For further details, access the original reports from Reuters and Los Angeles Times.