Israel and Honduras deepen defence cooperation
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz with a Honduran military delegation, August 16, 2026.
Despite growing scrutiny of Israeli defence ties, Honduras has revived relations with Israel, according to The New Arab and other agencies on August 18th.
Honduras and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding to renew diplomatic and defence cooperation, despite concerns about complicity in war crimes amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Israel’s Defence Ministry issued a statement saying that Defence Minister Israel Katz and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Rodríguez Burchard signed the agreement to “deepen defence cooperation.”
The Ministry described Honduras as an “important partner”, marking a shift from the nation’s condemnation of the war on Gaza in 2023 under then-President Xiomara Castro, which led to the Israeli ambassador being recalled.
However, Honduras never severed diplomatic relations with Israel. In 2021, Honduras joined the US, Guatemala and Kosovo in moving its embassy to Jerusalem, despite voting against recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017.
Israeli arms exports reached record levels in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 2% of exports; Europe and the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 36% and 32% of exports, respectively.
Honduras’ renewed support for Israel reportedly reflects a broader rightward shift across Latin America.
Colombia broke ties with Israel in 2024 under then-President Gustavo Petro; Katz responded by saying Petro was “antisemitic and full of hate.”
In January 2025, Colombia and Honduras were among eight founding members of The Hague Group, a coalition designed to plan action against Israel.
On August 10th 2026, newly elected Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella recognised Israeli sovereignty over Syria’s Golan Heights, which have been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, a move that only the US and Colombia recognise as legitimate.
Venezuela agreed to resume consular services with Israel after 19 years on August 11th.
Guatemala has maintained long-standing Israeli ties, with Israeli arms dealers based in Guatemala allegedly supplying weapons to Colombian paramilitaries in 2002; Guatemala was the second country to recognise Israel’s statehood in 1948.
Israel has been accused of training and advising armed groups across Latin America, including in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador.
The New Arab and agencies, Al Jazeera and agencies, TRT World and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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