What kind of country would offer Edward Snowden the most secure asylum? Would it be a country with a strong commitment to human rights? A country that is not on friendly terms with the United States? Or something else?
asked Jun 24, 2013 at 10:37
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Ricardo Patiño, Ecuador's Minister of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Integration said Snowden requested asylum: twitter.com/RicardoPatinoEC/status/348841761684197378 - No idea how "secure" Ecuador is, but I think it's safe to assume Snowden didn't choose the country randomly.– yannisJun 24, 2013 at 11:48
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6 Answers
Ecuador, apparently.
Ecuador has an established tradition of granting succor to those who feel the United States should be open to breaches of National Security. Julian Assange1, the famed Wiki-leaker also had a relationship with the President of Ecuador, and has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012.
While Ecuador does have an extradition treaty with the United States, there is never an obligation to actually enforce it. Rather, if the country is willing to harbor the fugitive, then that is sufficient.
The case of Assange also shows that one need not be an enemy of the US to harbor a fugitive. As long as the country is sympathetic to the plight of the fugitive, that is all that is needed. Typically, there are "points to be earned" by standing up to the "Yankee imperialist" so politically, it is expedient to do this when there is no percepatable harm to the receiving country. Had Snowden been a kidnapper or a pedophile or common criminal (the far more common case of extradition) then Snowden's options would be far more limited — but in this case, having such a safe way to poke Uncle Sam in the eye is a useful win-win for both Snowden and Correa.
1Note: Technically, Assange is wanted in Sweden to answer for a rape charge, although some feel that to be politically motivated. The fear on Assange's part is that in answering for his crimes in Sweden, Sweden may then choose to extradite him to the United States for his role in the WikiLeaks scandal. As such, in granting asylum to Assange, who is reputed to be a friend of Correa, Correa is able to take up the mantle of "standing up to the United States" at minimal cost.
answered Jun 24, 2013 at 12:21
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4More precisely, the claimed fear on Assange's part is as you describe. I have always found this odd, because Assange was already in the UK, which is far more willing to extradite people to the USA than Sweden. Jan 11, 2018 at 16:01
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@AffableGeek There are no rape charges, Assange was never charged with anything. Assange offered to go to Sweden if either Sweden promised not to surrender him to the US, or if the US promised not to ask for his extradition, they both refused.– user19087Jan 15, 2018 at 1:59
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1@user19087 thats rather an interesting take on the situation - Assange hasn't been charged because thats not how the Swedish system works, but the British courts have ruled that the situation is equivalent to charges being brought, so the arrest warrant is not invalid because of the lack of charges. Assange doesn't get to "offer" anything - a valid extradition warrant was issued, a valid extradition order was granted, Assange became a fugitive from justice and now he's in custody. Nothing about the extradition warrant or order was contingent on Assanges conditions.– user16741Jul 2, 2019 at 1:34
There are a quite a few countries that don't have extradition treaties with the U.S. but it doesn't offer a guarantee against capture, but it makes it much harder. Its still possible to be extradited without a treaty in place, but that process relies heavily on foreign relations so countries not friendly with the U.S. are the best choices. Ecuador has shown resistance to returning Julian Assange for similar crimes. Some other countries that do have treaties may be somewhat same due to the process of extradition being a bureaucratic nightmare and extremely slow (Hong Kong). The real problem is find a country willing to accept you and grant you a visa, even then you rely entirely on their good graces. Alternatively it could be possible to sneak into a country and lay low, but that possibility has likely passed for Snowden.
The United States currently has bilateral extradition agreements with the following countries:
Country Date signed Entered into Citation
force
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Albania Mar. 1, 1933 Nov. 14, 1935 49 Stat. 3313.
Antigua and June 3, 1996 July 1, 1999 TIAS.
Barbuda
Argentina June 10, 1997 June 15, 2000 TIAS 12866.
Australia Dec. 22, 1931 Aug. 30, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
May 14, 1974 May 8, 1976 27 UST 957.
Sept. 4, 1990 Dec. 21, 1992 1736 UNTS 344.
Austria Jan. 8, 1998 Jan. 1, 2000 TIAS 12916.
July 20, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Bahamas Mar. 9, 1990 Sept. 22, 1994 TIAS.
Barbados Feb. 28, 1996 Mar. 3, 2000 TIAS.
Belgium Apr. 27, 1987 Sept. 1, 1997 TIAS.
Dec. 16, 2004 Feb. 1, 2010
Belize Mar. 30, 2000 Mar. 27, 2001 TIAS.
Bolivia June 27, 1995 Nov. 21, 1996 TIAS.
Brazil Jan. 13, 1961 Dec. 17, 1964 15 UST 2093.
June 18, 1962 Dec. 17, 1964 15 UST 2112.
Bulgaria Mar. 19, 1924 June 24, 1924 43 Stat. 1886.
June 8, 1934 Aug. 15, 1935 49 Stat. 3250.
Sept. 19, 2007 May 21, 2009
Burma Dec. 22, 1931 Nov. 1, 1941 47 Stat. 2122.
Canada Dec. 3, 1971 Mar. 22, 1976 27 UST 983.
June 28, July Mar. 22, 1976 27 UST 1017.
9, 1974
Jan. 11, 1988 Nov. 26, 1991 TIAS.
Jan. 12, 2001 Apr. 30, 2003
Chile Apr. 17, 1900 June 26, 1902 32 Stat. 1850.
Colombia Sept. 14, 1979 Mar. 4, 1982 TIAS.
Congo Jan. 6, 1909 July 27, 1911 37 Stat. 1526.
(Brazzaville)
Jan. 15, 1929
Apr. 23, 1936
May 19, 1929
Sept. 24, 1936
46 Stat. 2276.
50 Stat. 1117.
Costa Rica Dec. 4, 1982 Oct. 11, 1991 TIAS.
Cuba Apr. 6, 1904 Mar. 2, 1905 33 Stat. 2265.
Dec. 6, 1904 Mar. 2, 1905 33 Stat. 2273.
Jan. 14, 1926 June 18, 1926 44 Stat. 2392.
Cyprus June 17, 1996 Sept. 14, 1999 TIAS.
Jan. 20, 2006 Feb. 1, 2010
Czech Republic July 2, 1925 Mar. 29, 1926 44 Stat. 2367.
(!1)
Apr. 29, 1935
Aug. 28, 1935
49 Stat. 3253.
May 16, 2006 Feb. 1, 2010
Denmark June 22, 1972 July 31, 1974 25 UST 1293.
June 23, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Dominica Oct. 10, 1996 May 25, 2000 TIAS.
Dominican June 19, 1909 Aug. 2, 1910 36 Stat. 2468.
Republic
Ecuador June 28, 1872 Nov. 12, 1873 18 Stat. 199.
Sept. 22, 1939 May 29, 1941 55 Stat. 1196.
Egypt Aug. 11, 1874 Apr. 22, 1875 19 Stat. 572.
El Salvador Apr. 18, 1911 July 10, 1911 37 Stat. 1516.
Estonia Nov. 8, 1923 Nov. 15, 1924 43 Stat. 1849.
Oct. 10, 1934 May 7, 1935 49 Stat. 3190.
Feb. 8, 2006 Apr. 7, 2009
European Union June 25, 2003 Feb. 1, 2010
Fiji Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
July 14, 1972, Aug. 17, 1973 24 UST 1965.
Aug. 17, 1973
Finland June 11, 1976 May 11, 1980 31 UST 944.
Dec. 16, 2004 Feb. 1, 2010
France Apr. 23, 1996 Feb. 1, 2002 TIAS.
Sept. 30, 2004 Feb. 1, 2010
Gambia Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Germany June 20, 1978 Aug. 29, 1980 32 UST 1485.
Oct. 21, 1986 Mar. 11, 1993 TIAS.
Apr. 18, 2006 Feb. 1, 2010
Ghana Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Greece May 6, 1931 Nov. 1, 1932 47 Stat. 2185.
Sept. 2, 1937 Sept. 2, 1937 51 Stat. 357.
Jan. 18, 2006 Feb. 1, 2010
Grenada May 30, 1996 Sept. 14, 1999 TIAS.
Guatemala Feb. 27, 1903 Aug. 15, 1903 33 Stat. 2147.
Feb. 20, 1940 Mar. 13, 1941 55 Stat. 1097.
Guyana Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Haiti Aug. 9, 1904 June 28, 1905 34 Stat. 2858.
Honduras Jan. 15, 1909 July 10, 1912 37 Stat. 1616.
Feb. 21, 1927 June 5, 1928 45 Stat. 2489.
Hong Kong Dec. 20, 1996 Jan. 21, 1998 TIAS.
Hungary Dec. 1, 1994 Mar. 18, 1997 TIAS.
Nov. 15, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Iceland Jan. 6, 1902 May 16, 1902 32 Stat. 1096.
Nov. 6, 1905 Feb. 19, 1906 34 Stat. 2887.
India June 25, 1997 July 21, 1999 TIAS 12873.
Iraq June 7, 1934 Apr. 23, 1936 49 Stat. 3380.
Ireland July 13, 1983 Dec. 15, 1984 TIAS 10813.
July 14, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Israel Dec. 10, 1962 Dec. 5, 1963 14 UST
1707.(!2)
July 6, 2005 Jan. 10, 2007
Italy Oct. 13, 1983 Sept. 24, 1984 35 UST 3023.
May 3, 2006 Feb. 1, 2010
Jamaica June 14, 1983 July 7, 1991 TIAS.
Japan Mar. 3, 1978 Mar. 26, 1980 31 UST 892.
Jordan Mar. 28, 1995 July 29, 1995 TIAS.
Kenya Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
May 14, Aug. Aug. 19, 1965 16 UST 1866.
19, 1965
Kiribati June 8, 1972 Jan. 21, 1977 28 UST 227.
Latvia Oct. 16, 1923 Mar. 1, 1924 43 Stat. 1738.
Oct. 10, 1934 Mar. 29, 1935 49 Stat. 3131.
Dec. 7, 2005 Apr. 15, 2009
Lesotho Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Liberia Nov. 1, 1937 Nov. 21, 1939 54 Stat. 1733.
Liechtenstein May 20, 1936 June 28, 1937 50 Stat. 1337.
Lithuania Oct. 23, 2001 Mar. 31, 2003 TIAS 13166.
June 15, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Luxembourg Oct. 1, 1996 Feb. 1, 2002 TIAS 12804.
Feb. 1, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Malawi Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Dec. 17, 1966, Apr. 4, 1967 18 UST 1822.
Jan. 6, Apr. 4,
1967
Malaysia Aug. 3, 1995 June 2, 1997 TIAS.
Malta Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
May 18, 2006 July 1, 2009
Marshall Islands Apr. 30, 2003 May 1, 2004
Mauritius Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Mexico May 4, 1978 Jan. 25, 1980 31 UST 5059.
Nov. 13, 1997 May 21, 2001 TIAS 12897.
Micronesia, May 14, 2003 June 25, 2004
Federated States
of
Monaco Feb. 15, 1939 Mar. 28, 1940 54 Stat. 1780.
Nauru Dec. 22, 1931 Aug. 30, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Netherlands June 24, 1980 Sept. 15, 1983 35 UST 1334.
Sept. 29, 2004 Feb. 1, 2010
New Zealand Jan. 12, 1970 Dec. 8, 1970 22 UST 1.
Nicaragua Mar. 1, 1905 July 14, 1907 35 Stat. 1869.
Nigeria Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Norway June 9, 1977 Mar. 7, 1980 31 UST 5619.
Pakistan Dec. 22, 1931 Mar. 9, 1942 47 Stat. 2122.
Panama May 25, 1904 May 8, 1905 34 Stat. 2851.
Papua New Guinea Dec. 22, 1931 Aug. 30, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Feb. 2, 23, 1988 Feb. 23, 1988 TIAS.
Paraguay Nov. 9, 1998 Mar. 9, 2001 TIAS 12995.
Peru July 26, 2001 Aug. 25, 2003
Philippines Nov. 13, 1994 Nov. 22, 1996 TIAS.
Poland July 10, 1996 Sept. 17, 1999 TIAS.
June 9, 2006 Feb. 1, 2010
Portugal May 7, 1908 Nov. 14, 1908 35 Stat. 2071.
July 14, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Romania July 23, 1924 Apr. 7, 1925 44 Stat. 2020.
Nov. 10, 1936 July 27, 1937 50 Stat. 1349.
Sept. 10, 2007 May 8, 2009
Saint Kitts and Sept. 18, 1996 Feb. 23, 2000 TIAS 12805.
Nevis
Saint Lucia Apr. 18, 1996 Feb. 2, 2000 TIAS.
Saint Vincent Aug. 15, 1996 Sept. 8, 1999 TIAS.
and the
Grenadines
San Marino Jan. 10, 1906 July 8, 1908 35 Stat. 1971.
Oct. 10, 1934 June 28, 1935 49 Stat. 3198.
Seychelles Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Sierra Leone Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Singapore Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Apr. 23, June June 10, 1969 20 UST 2764.
10, 1969
Slovakia (!1) July 2, 1925 Mar. 29, 1926 44 Stat. 2367.
Apr. 29, 1935
Feb. 6, 2006
Aug. 28, 1935
Feb. 1, 2010
49 Stat. 3253.
Slovenia (!1) Oct. 17, 2005 Feb. 1, 2010
Solomon Islands June 8, 1972 Jan. 21, 1977 28 UST 277.
South Africa Sept. 16, 1999 June 25, 2001 TIAS.
South Korea June 9, 1998 Dec. 20, 1999 TIAS 12962.
Spain May 29, 1970 June 16, 1971 22 UST 737.
Jan. 25, 1975 June 2, 1978 29 UST 2283.
Feb. 9, 1988 July 2, 1993 TIAS.
Mar. 12, 1996 July 25, 1999 TIAS.
Dec. 17, 2004 Feb. 1, 2010
Sri Lanka Sept. 30, 1999 Jan. 12, 2001 TIAS.
Suriname June 2, 1887 July 11, 1889 26 Stat. 1481.
Jan. 18, 1904 Aug. 28, 1904 33 Stat. 2257.
Swaziland Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
May 13, July July 28, 1970 21 UST 1930.
28, 1970
Sweden Oct. 24, 1961 Dec. 3, 1963 14 UST 1845.
Mar. 14, 1983 Sept. 24, 1984 35 UST 2501.
Dec. 16, 2004 Feb. 1, 2010
Switzerland Nov. 14, 1990 Sept. 10, 1997 TIAS.
Tanzania Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Nov. 30, Dec. Dec. 6, 1965 16 UST 2066.
6, 1965
Thailand Dec. 14, 1983 May 17, 1991 TIAS.
Tonga Dec. 22, 1931 Aug. 1, 1966 47 Stat. 2122.
Mar. 14, Apr. Apr. 13, 1977 28 UST 5290.
13, 1977
Trinidad and Mar. 4, 1996 Nov. 29, 1999 TIAS.
Tobago
Turkey June 7, 1979 Jan. 1, 1981 32 UST 3111.
Tuvalu June 8, 1972 Jan. 21, 1977 28 UST 227.
Apr. 25, 1980 32 UST 1310.
United Kingdom Mar. 31, 2003 Apr. 26, 2007
Dec. 16, 2004
Feb. 1, 2010
Uruguay Apr. 6, 1973 Apr. 11, 1984 35 UST 3197.
Venezuela Jan. 19, 21, Apr. 14, 1923 43 Stat. 1698.
1922
Yugoslavia (!1) Oct. 25, 1901 June 12, 1902 32 Stat. 1890.
Zambia Dec. 22, 1931 June 24, 1935 47 Stat. 2122.
Zimbabwe July 25, 1997 Apr. 26, 2000
(!1) Status of agreements with successor states of Czechoslovakia
and Yugoslavia is under review; inquire of the Treaty Office of the
United States Department of State.
(!2) Typographical error corrected by diplomatic notes exchanged
Apr. 4 and 11, 1967. See 18 UST 382, 383.
source *this appears to be updated 1/3/12, but i'm not sure all countries listed are still actively upholding treaties (ie Cuba).
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2"resistance to returning Julian Assange for similar crimes" [citation needed] Jun 24, 2013 at 13:11
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@AndrewGrimm which part? The harboring Assange, covered in the Wikipedia link in Affable Geek's answer, or the fact both leaked classified documents which should be obvious.– RyathalJun 24, 2013 at 13:18
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4Currently, he's wanted by a country other than the United States, and the allegations he's facing are not leaking-related. Now, his leaking may be why Ecuador is granting him asylum, but that's another matter... Jun 24, 2013 at 13:22
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Source? And I'm surprised that Cuba and North Korea seem to have an extradition treaty with the USA... Jun 26, 2013 at 18:58
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1@MartinSchröder updated my answer and flipped to countries with a treaty, much better sourcing and may be a bit more up to date.– RyathalJun 26, 2013 at 21:34
I suggest a country where the government or at least, ideology is not a subject of frequent change and which has principled people at power (as opposed to those who are likely to trade their convictions for some bounties from the USA). I think the best choice would be Cuba. North Korea is worse because it seems they can give up due to pressure. Iran is subject to government change which is a risk.
Note: for the purpose of this answer I am assuming that the discussed countries have all found ways to make the legalities work out.
I would say a European country that supports him would be best, they have some of the most stable governments in the world (excluding parts of eastern Europe). England is out, their government is against him and even the journalists who released his information. France would be bad for him too, they have their own NSA-like program personal encryption is banned there; and he uses encryption frequently. Germany would be a good place for him, their government is very displeased by the NSA, and they are very technology oriented country (Which may be part of why they are so against the NSA spying, people who work in technology or study it often tend to oppose the NSA in high rates - sorry I can't find the source article for this.) so he would have plenty of potential employers.
Northern Cyprus.
FREEDOM FROM COURT DANGERS:
United States' Federal Court: "Although the United States does not recognize it as a state, the TRNC purportedly operates as a DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC with a president, prime minister, legislature and judiciary...TRNC is NOT VULNERABLE to a lawsuit in Washington"
The news of the Court Decision (13.10.2014)
Page of the Court case
Decision of the Court
Just like USA, Northern Cyprus cannot be sued in any of the country in the world.
Till now, we get rid of "193 countries of the world".
Now, any combination of these countries, international courts...?
Think PCJ (Permanent Court of Justice) of the United Nations that is highest legal authority in the world. In order to apply PCJ, both of the countries that are in troubly MUST apply; individual applications are not allowed. In case of USA and Northern Cyprus, as far as NC doesn't allow the cases to be settled in PCJ, NOTHING happens.
FREEDOM ENVIRONMENT IN NORTHERN CYPRUS:
Northern Cyprus is very very free country. This fact is emphazised everywhere:
Freedom House 2017: Northern Cyprus is among the MOST FREE countries in the world.
Snowden can start to life as a student like all of us!
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2Errm, TRNC cannot be sued because, legally, it doesn't exist as far as the World is concerned. Turkey illegally occupies Northern Cyprus as far as any country but Turkey is concerned. So you'd sue Turkey if you want anything to happen in NC.– janhJan 10, 2018 at 19:15
Well, what about Iran? As far as I know Iran hates the US.
There could be a possibility that he is a double agent or something else.
Don't forget that he spent a lot of time in Hawaii, where the surveillance of China happens.
But, anyway he will probably land in Ecuador or stay in Russia.
Iceland is out, in my opinion.
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yeah, but what if he's gay? They hang gays on the lampposts in the streets you know... Well, on cranes actually.– Genli AiJul 3, 2013 at 17:43