U.S.–Latin America Relations

Bolivia’s new foreign minister, Fernando Aramayo, said during a Washington visit this week that La Paz is pivoting toward the United States for investment and technology transfers—especially in lithium—and away from reliance on China and alignment with Venezuela. Aramayo said he signed an agreement to reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel and warned about entrenched transnational criminal networks after years of 'narco authorities' in Bolivia.

President Trump granted a full pardon to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving at USP Hazelton after a U.S. conviction for conspiring to import more than 400 tons of cocaine (he had been sentenced to 45 years and was appealing); Hernández was released, Trump defended the move, and it drew bipartisan criticism. Honduras Attorney General Johel Zelaya ordered authorities and asked Interpol to execute a 2023 Supreme Court magistrate arrest order—triggered if Hernández were freed—accusing him in the "Pandora" scheme of fraud and money‑laundering tied to diversion of state funds to political parties; Hernández’s lawyer called the action political and his whereabouts after release remain unclear. The pardon, coming after Trump’s endorsement of National Party candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura, has overshadowed a tight Honduran presidential vote.