US Southern Command’s General Laura Richardson announced during her fourth visit to Honduras that the US will lift existing restrictions on the Honduran Air Force and strengthen its Naval Force and radar systems.
The announcement was made in the presence of Honduran President Xiomara Castro in Tegucigalpa, where defense and security cooperation topics were discussed.
High-ranking Honduran officials, including Defense Minister José Manuel Zelaya and Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, Vice Admiral José Jorge Fortín, participated in the meeting.
They confirmed Honduras’s stance on security and defense with the US, emphasizing good relations with the North American government.
The lifted restrictions will enable both countries to exchange information to fight drug trafficking.
For Honduras, it means the ability to purchase spare parts for their aircraft, including the fleet of Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II jets, some of which were upgraded previously.
Furthermore, an agreement was reached to enhance the Honduran Naval Force, specifically in the Gulf of Fonseca, with two new vessels.
Additionally, opportunities were opened for Honduran military officers to receive scholarships for training in US academies, and agreements were made to enhance the radar systems.