However, it would appear that not all countries share this spirit of openness and economic opportunity. However, many different countries have refused to be part of an extradition treaty with the US. So if a person commits a crime in the US, they can be deported to America if they try to flee to extradition countries. But what happens if you take the shelter in the nations with no extradition treaty? And what do you mean by the extradition treaty? The Extradition Treaty between two countries is a document setting out the legal arrangements for
Extradition, which is the lawful surrender of a person by one state to another in response to an extradition request.
This treaty defines how these requests will be assessed and authorized, notably who can make such a request, the grounds on which it should be made, and what extraditable offenses are. It is applied to any country with duly ratified treaties in existence. So now you know denies the US to get fugitives and criminals who have fled to other countries.
How Does It Work?
An extradition treaty is a kind of international agreement that comes into effect after its ratification by two signatory states. Extradition laws are designed to facilitate the return of fugitives who have fled from one state to another. This is done to ensure that the punishment for a crime is fairly and consistently implemented in the country where it was committed. In addition, the state's law enforcement agencies whose laws were broken must also ensure that the expulsion is following the treaty. The United States has extradition treaties with more than 100 countries, but still, some countries are not part of the extradition treaty.People who commit crimes, fraud, scams, etc., and are chased by government agents , look for countries with no extradition treaty with the US to take asylum to that country. So now, today, you are going learn all about the countries that refused to sign the extradition treaty with the USA and why.
Can A Country Refuse To Allow Extradition Into Their Countries?
Yes, this is also one of the possibilities. Because it is not necessary that a country that has signed an extradition treaty necessarily follows them all the time. There have been cases where the USA has been denied to take back the fugitive living in a foreign country and government refuges to help the USA. On the contrary, some countries without an extradition treaty can hand back the criminal after the USA's request. This all depends upon the government and political condition of the country. Like in 2012, the approx 900 people who committed a crime and took asylums to various foreign countries were brought back to the USA with the help of government officials.Most people were hiding in the countries like Canada, Mexico and Columbia, and other South American countries. But you would also have heard how European countries like Spain and Middle East country Yemen constantly help the USA find fugitives and hand them back to the USA. Of course, they do not have an extradition treaty with the USA, but it still helps them out with good political relations.
Now, Cuba has signed an extradition treaty with the USA but is still a favorite place for criminals toto hideout. It is considered that over a hundred criminals are still hiding out there. So what is the reason for all that, and why can't the USA bring back all those criminals. The answer is the bad diplomatic relations between both the country. This makes them less use of the extradition treaty. Both the countries are working on refining the relationship, but it will take time, and it is still not clear whether Cuba will follow the extradition treaty or not.
Because Cuba is not alone, several countries besides it also dared to refuge the Extradition besides having a treaty with the USA. Switzerland, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Iceland, Nicaragua, and Zimbabwe. Thus, that is why the USA is working continuously on updating its
Extradition treaty to make it more powerful and bring back all the criminals hiding out in the world successfully.
List Of Countries That Do Not Have Extradition Treaty With the USA
The first thing you need to understand is that in current times the USA has a bilateral extradition policy with 107 foreign countries. A country with diplomatic relations with a foreign nation doesn't need to have an extradition treaty. The same is the case with the USA, too; the USA maintains political relations with many countries in the world, but not all of them have signed extradition treaties with the USA. So if you're an international criminal, you might want to avoid the United States because of its legislation, etc. Then here you will learn about the famous countries to take the shelter of the fugitive. The people with a good amount of money who want to hide out can look at this list as the countries on the list provide a good lifestyle.Brunei
Brunei is one of the wealthiest countries and does not have an extradition treaty with the US. The country has a very wealthy economy. The main source of earnings comes from oil and gas, and fishing is also a high earner in revenue. So if you seek a hideout in this country, you do have to take care of some basic public rules, and then you are good to go. But many people wonder why such a small country does not want to be with the USA. The king of Brunei has some different thoughts on the extradition treaty and does not want any foreign country to meddle in his country's affairs.
Russia And China
Both of these countries run one of the biggest economies in the world and have no extradition treaty with the US. They all consider themselves as superpowers of the world, and thus there are too many languages and legal barriers that keep on the part of the extradition treaty. It means anyone who wants to hide out in these countries has to be careful and keep a low profile, as its government is strict.
The big countries like Russia and China, who have been looking to influence the world and become world leaders, do not want the USA to push them on their internal matters. That is why they do not have an extradition treaty with the USA. But people who want to consider and fly to these countries can choose any lifestyle they desire. They have many metropolitan cities with the big five-star hotel to spend your money on or travel around the country's different cities if you want to live a nomadic life.
Montenegro
Another European country without an extradition treaty with the USA is famous Montenegro. The people of this country are very friendly and welcoming. Earlier, this country was part of Yugoslav but now is known as the republic of Montenegro. This country has not signed an extradition treaty with the USA and is the perfect place for the people to run as it provides various amounts of investing opportunities. So yes, right, you can have a rich or nomadic lifestyle, but if you want, you can invest in the country too.
It is also not part of the EU because of issues in the country's policy, and the EU wants them to tighten up its policy before becoming an active member of the EU. Thus, it is one of the scenic countries to go and live your life with full privacy and without anyone's interference.
Ukraine And Moldova
These two are the other European countries that have not signed an extradition treaty with the USA. Although Ukraine's financial condition is not in the best state like other European countries, the president is still very sensitive about more foreign involvement in its affairs.
The same is the case with Moldova, too, as it wants to be free from foreign involvement. But these two countries will be best for you if you want to have good nomadic life without any disturbance or interruptions.
Iran
Iran is one of the countries on the list, as they do not have an extradition treaty with the USA. Iran is famous for giving shelter to other people. In this country, make sure to maintain low key profile and avoid attention. The country has a huge population and a good infrastructure where it runs many political and economic activities. In some the cities like Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz, Mashad, etc., many Sunni people live in these cities, and therefore, as long as you do not annoy them too much, you will be good to go.
Somalia
Somalia has no extradition treaty with the USA. It is one of the most dangerous countries to live in Africa. It has poor infrastructure, no good economy, and no law enforcement. If you want to hide out from law enforcement in this country, it is good for you as they do not have an extradition treaty with America. But if you want to enjoy luxury, it is not recommended for you, as the country has a very low standard of living.
The Gulf States
It is not a surprise to find the Gulf States on this list having no extradition treaty with America. The nations such as Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are the famous and rich gulf countries with no extradition treaty. But the surprising thing is that these states are very influential and have a good economy, but they still do not want to associate themselves with America and its policy.
But the officials of the gulf countries have said many times that to do not provide any kind of support to the criminals and have to do nothing with it. But famous cities like Dubai have served as homes for many officials of foreign officials running away from their countries.
Who does not want to live in Dubai with all the royal hotels, luxury cars, and a plethora of business opportunities?
Vietnam, Cambodia, And Mongolia
Some developing nations with growing economies, such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mongolia, have yet to have an extradition treaty with the USA. There have been many cases when people were found running successful businesses after fleeing from the USA. Seeing this type of punishment of living a lavish lifestyle abroad, places like these are at the top of the list of touring with or without Extradition. These countries believe in freedom, and thus it opens the way for the fugitive to find asylum in these rapidly growing countries like Vietnam and Cambodia.
Maldives, Tunisia, And Vanuatu
What could be more fun than finding a haven with low taxes and extremely beautiful nature? The counties where you can find all of this are Tunisia, Maldives, and Vanuatu. You would be surprised to hear that you don't have to pay any taxes in Vanuatu, and its policies allow a foreigner to invest in the country easily. In addition, they run several investing programs to attract the residing foreigners living in Vanuatu.
As all of you know, Maldives is a famous tourist place with luxurious beaches and resorts to have a good time. But who wants to live in the Maldives? The increase in the real estate business will surely give you a better investment opportunity. If you talk about Tunisia, it is a North African country and will be perfect for the people who want to live in peace with Mediterranean weather, culture, and history.
Now, if you are looking to invest in real estate in foreign countries, Indonesia is a new name that has become popular with a fast-growing economy. But, with that being said, these places are perfect for the nomads.
African Countries
If you have been to African countries and liked them, going to countries like Ethiopia, Uganda, and Botswana can be better. This is because the African countries are all about adventure and exploration. The advantage is that these countries do not have any extradition treaties with other countries, including the USA. Moreover, these countries are the top economic country in Africa, so you can think of fleeing there to live an adventurous life.
Non Extradition Countries Vs. Countries With No Diplomatic Ties
Before seeking out hideouts or accommodation in the Non-extradition countries or countries with no diplomatic relation with the US, you should know about a couple of things first. Places like Bhutan and Venezuela are countries, among many others, that do not have any political ties with the USA. There are a lot of countries with no extradition treaty, but it is not suitable for foreign people to live out there. The reason could be anything from the weather to taste in culture. So you should do proper research about the country you want to find accommodation in before leaving the USA. Countries like North Korea, Somalia, and Iran aren't that bad; they are shown in Western media.So before choosing a country on any continent, you should know about it. If you are willing to move to African countries and want to live in high-rise apartments, then good luck in finding that. Because no infrastructure development will attract you to live there, Latin countries like Venezuela might be the best fit for you as the government is not in the mood to sign an extradition deal in the coming couple of years. They are not showing any intention of it, and hence the laws wouldn't bother you in living peacefully there.
Understanding The Difference Between No Extradition Treaty And Not Extraditing
If a country doesn’t have an extradition treaty, it does not means that country has chosen not to allow the transfer of people it believes are guilty of crimes to other countries. Instead, it means that there was no fast legal and diplomatic way of doing it. Extradition is the legal process by which a country sends people living there, but not citizens of that country, back to their home country to face prosecution or punishment for crimes committed in the home or host countries. So, for example, states can ask a foreign state to return someone who has been accused or convicted of a crime in their territory.There are many reasons why a country does not have an extradition treaty with another country. Some may argue that it is a matter of sovereignty because, as sovereign states, the countries no longer need to listen to the laws of other countries. It is often believed that this situation is shameful and gives a bad image of the country, both at home and abroad.
It may be due to a number of factors, including the fact that they are confident in their ability to defend their "territory" from an invasion by other states or because they believe these demands for Extradition would be politically expensive or even make them vulnerable to negotiations by such countries like China, USA, and Russia. But these powerful countries have extradited criminals by just going into the foreign land and grabbing the criminal without the permission of another country couple of times in the past. Then, they either bully or force the opposing country to hand over the suspect.
Famous Controversial Cases Of Non Extradition
Now to generate a better understanding of Non-extradition, let's look at the case of famous USA Whistleblower Edward Snowden. You must have heard his name a couple of times in the news because he has been the hot topic and case of Extradition. Edward Snowden ran to Russia and took asylum there; since then USA has been trying to bring him back to the USA.In 2013 Edward Snowden leaked classified documents from the National Security Agency (NSA) to journalists. As a result, the NSA has been damaged, and many of its top-secret surveillance programs have been disclosed to the public.
The debate about his actions is ongoing and created heated discussions about privacy, surveillance, civil liberties, and trust between citizens and their government. Snowden is a controversial figure, being labeled a hero to some and a traitor to others. In addition,
Snowden's prosecutors accuse him of violating the Espionage Act. By comparison, journalist Glenn Greenwald, who worked with Snowden to release information in 2013, made it clear that he would return home if there were a "fairer trial" and that it would be no problem for the government to arrest him and extradite him.
In 2014, Snowden was granted a residence permit by the Russian government, which allows him to live in Russia until 2020. According to Human Rights Watch and other critics, Snowden is not inside the United States, and it would be a risky decision for him to return. The NSA wants him extradited to face criminal charges in the US. Human rights organization Amnesty International continues its support of Snowden.
Julian Assange
The story of Julian Assange is one that has been going on for years now. To put it in a nutshell, he was an Australian editor who co-founded one of the famous and controversial media agencies, Wikileaks. He was charged to release and expose classified USA army documents, and he posted about the USA secrets and scandals blowing everybody's minds. Unfortunately, he did not have political asylum in Sweden, and he was arrested for this reason. In his fight for freedom, a few days later, he left the country and went to England by taking a flight to Ecuador.
Apparently, this country supported him with asylum despite the USA's official request to arrest him. So if you are badly looking for a place to accommodate outside of the USA or want to find hideouts where you would be safe, there are many places to consider. But you need to be sure that you have handsome money in your bank account because you never know when things can get worse.