U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is in Honduras for talks with Central American leaders on regional security efforts and drug trafficking. Biden said the Obama administration will ask Congress for an additional $107 million for the Central American Regional Security Initiative next year. Biden’s visit comes amid what appears to be an emerging rift between the Obama administration and its Central American allies on decriminalizing drugs. Last month, Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina said he would support decriminalization, and on Tuesday, Central American leaders agreed to debate the idea at a gathering later this month. During his stop in Honduras, Biden pledged the Obama administration’s support for the Honduran government.

Joe Biden: “The United States and Honduras have had a long and close partnership, and we reaffirmed that today. The President and I discussed a wide range of topics, especially security and economic development. We understand the grave threats of narcotrafficking and the gang violence and the threat it poses to the people of Honduras, but quite frankly the entire region, as well as to my country. And the United States is absolutely committed to continuing to work with Honduras to win this battle against the narcotraffickers.”