The President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, advised these thousands of people that her government could reconsider the permanence of the state military base in the country, as well as the administration of Donald Trump, who will take power next January 20, bringing massive deportations of Honduran migrants in Cabo. In a nationwide New Year's message, Castro called this possible “hostile activity” that will heavily impact the relationship between both countries.
“Faced with hostile activity of massive expulsion of our brothers, we tend to consider a change in our cooperation policies with the United States, especially in the military field where, without paying a cent, for decades, we maintain military bases in our territory , that in this case you will lose all reason to exist in Honduras,” the representative affirmed.
These statements come against a backdrop of uncertain growth for undocumented migrants in the United States, much of which concerns the immigration policies of the next Trump administration. During his campaign, the president-elect reaffirmed his commitment to address massive deportations as part of his migration control strategy, a posture that has generated tensions in various countries in the region.
The military base and its map in Honduras
Since 1982, the United States has maintained the José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base, known as “La Palmerola,” in Comayagua, central Honduras. According to official information, this installation hosts more than 500 state military personnel and also employs Honduran and state civilians. Although his presence is justified in terms of regional cooperation and security, Castro suggested that this relationship could be reevaluated if actions were perceived to pay attention to the rights of Honduran migrants.
The president expressed his hope that the new US government will choose a relationship based on mutual understanding and collaboration.
“We hope that Donald Trump's administration is open to constructive and friendly dialogue and that there are no unnecessary reactions against immigrants,” Castro said in his message.
An uncertain future for migrants
Donald Trump's campaign promises have generated a climate of concern in migrant communities in the United States, particularly among Hondurans, who represent a significant percentage of undocumented migrants in that country. Faced with the possibility of massive deportations, thousands of people attempted to cross into the United States before Trump took charge, which has generated tensions in transit countries and on the state front.
Honduras, like other countries in the region, depends largely on the responses sent by its foreign citizens, who represent a crucial source of income for the national economy. A massive deportation would not only impact migrant communities, but also have significant economic and social consequences for the Central American country.
Response pending from the United States
So far, Donald Trump's transition team has not responded to Xiomara Castro's statements. However, the Honduran president's posture could mark an inflection point in bilateral relations, especially if the migration policies of the next state government are perceived as an improvement for the stability of Central American countries.
Castro made clear that Honduras is willing to replant its cooperation with the United States if its migrant population is not respected. His message reflects a direct challenge to Trump's policies as he seeks to protect the interests of Hondurans affected by forced migration and lack of opportunities in his country of origin.
The future of the state military base in Honduras, as well as the turmoil of relations between both countries, will depend greatly on how the first months of the Trump administration unfold and whether a dialogue can be established that allows migratory problems to be addressed de manera joint. In a landscape of high tension, diplomacy will be the key to avoiding a deterioration in relations between Honduras and the United States.
