Honduras intends to acquire drones from Ukraine for border surveillance and counter-narcotics efforts, President Nasry Asfura confirmed to AFP on Monday. The announcement follows his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, where Zelensky offered military technology, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles, to the Central American nation.
Security Cooperation Agreement
During the talks, Zelensky sought to strengthen security ties between the two countries. Asfura, a right-wing leader endorsed by US President Donald Trump in the November 2025 Honduran elections, highlighted the potential use of drones for border protection and combating organized crime. “We are talking about drones to protect our borders, to efficiently guard our borders, to fight against organized crime with high-tech equipment,” Asfura stated in Panama City at a meeting of the Organization of American States.
Dual-Use Technology for Agriculture
Asfura also mentioned that the drones could be employed in agriculture, though he did not provide further details. Ukraine has heavily relied on drones in its war against Russia, which began with Moscow’s invasion in 2022. The offer to Honduras reflects Ukraine’s expanding role in global defense exports.
Honduras' Ongoing Violence
Honduras has been plagued by violence from narcotrafficking clans, street gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, and corrupt security forces. The country’s homicide rate stands at 24 killings per 100,000 inhabitants, nearly four times the global average. On May 21, 19 people were massacred in a farming village in northern Honduras, where armed groups have long contested palm plantations and drug trafficking routes. The same day, suspected narcotraffickers killed five police officers near the border with Guatemala.
Political Context
Asfura is a political ally of former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was extradited to the United States and convicted of drug trafficking and weapons charges in 2024. Trump pardoned Hernandez a year later. The drone deal underscores ongoing international efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region.
