Published 05/01/2025 16:20
Honduras, the country that hosts one of the most important US military bases in Central America, has threatened to reconsider its military cooperation with Washington. The statement was made by President Xiomara Castro in retaliation for plans announced by new US President Donald Trump to carry out mass deportations of illegal immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of Hondurans.
Soto Cano Air Base, located in Honduras, has been a strategic point for the US since the 1980s. It currently hosts more than 1,000 American military and civilian personnel, serving as a hub for counter-narcotics operations, disaster relief and and regional surveillance.
However, President Xiomara questioned the long-standing presence of the American military on Honduran territory, especially in light of Trump’s new immigration policies. In a message broadcast on national television, Xiomara stated that if mass deportations were implemented, “military bases would lose all reason to exist in Honduras.”
Impact for Honduras and the US
The threat from Honduras marks a critical point in bilateral relations. Although the Soto Cano base has offered economic benefits and infrastructure to the Central American country, analysts point out that discontent with American influence has grown, especially after decades of Washington’s support for regimes and leaders accused of corruption and drug trafficking, such as the former president Juan Orlando Hernández.
On the other hand, the US uses the base as a key piece in its regional security strategy, including in the context of growing geopolitical competition with China. However, experts argue that Soto Cano no longer has the same strategic importance as in past decades, and its loss would be more symbolic than operational for the American military.
Mass deportations: an economic blow to Honduras
The prospect of large-scale deportations puts Honduras in a delicate position. Around 27% of Honduran GDP depends on remittances sent by citizens living abroad, the majority in the US. The estimate that more than 250,000 Hondurans could be deported represents an immense economic and social challenge for the country.
Additionally, the Honduran diaspora plays a vital role in key sectors of the American economy. However, the Trump administration threatens to adopt a tough stance against immigration, promising quick deportations and even trade tariffs if regional neighbors do not cooperate with its migration control policies.
The future of US-Honduras relations
Xiomara’s threat is seen by American analysts as a negotiating strategy in the face of an unequal situation. Honduras would be playing with weak cards, but it is an important symbolic movement.
However, the risks are high. The Trump administration and Republican sectors may interpret Castro’s statement as an alignment with anti-American governments in the region, such as Venezuela and Nicaragua. This could intensify tensions and lead to a deterioration in bilateral relations.
Honduras’ statement reflects growing pressure on Central American countries to address U.S. migration policies and reassert their sovereignty in the face of decades of American influence. Meanwhile, the Trump administration faces internal and external criticism for its mass deportation proposals, seen as inhumane and potentially destabilizing for the region.
The future of US military bases in Honduras and the impact of deportations remain uncertain. However, Castro’s threat signals a new chapter in the relationship between the world’s greatest superpower and its neighbors in Latin America, with profound implications for regional geopolitics.
Source: vermelho.org.br
