US President Donald Trump commended Honduras’ new conservative leader Nasry Asfura after a meeting at Mar-a-Lago, with Asfura pledging to be Washington’s top regional partner.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump praised conservative Honduran counterpart Nasry Asfura (pic, left) after a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Asfura vowed to be Washington’s “most reliable strategic partner” in the region.
The Honduran president was sworn in last week after winning November elections with Trump’s backing. Trump had previously threatened to cut aid if his “friend” was defeated.
“I had a very important meeting with my friend, and the President of Honduras, Nasry ‘Tito’ Asfura,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He stated that once he gave his “strong Endorsement,” Asfura won his election.
Trump added that they share “America First” values and have a close partnership on security. For his part, Asfura described the Mar-a-Lago meeting as “productive.”
“Honduras is ready to grow, attract investment, and establish itself as the most reliable strategic partner of the United States in the region,” Asfura said in a post on X. The two leaders agreed to boost investment and trade between their nations.
Asfura had already met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in January, after which the two countries announced plans for a free trade deal. His victory gives Trump another ally in Latin America after recent conservative wins in several countries.
The new Honduran leader, who succeeded left-wing leader Xiomara Castro, has said he is considering switching diplomatic ties from China to Taiwan. Trump has been pressuring regional nations to choose between close ties with Washington or Beijing.
In a controversial pre-election move, Trump pardoned former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez was serving a 45-year US prison sentence for drug trafficking.
The decision to pardon him, even as US forces conducted anti-drug operations in the Caribbean, drew heavy criticism. Hernandez was convicted of helping to smuggle 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.
