Title: Honduras to Reconsider U.S. Military Bases Amidst Diplomatic Tensions and Migrant Concerns
In her New Year’s address, Honduran President Xiomara Castro highlighted achievements under her administration, condemned U.S. interference, and expressed solidarity with those fighting against fascism in the Americas.
Addressing the nation via radio and television on January 1st, Castro touched on various topics, including the milestones accomplished by her government as it enters its final year in power. Notably, she sent a message to the incoming U.S. administration led by President-elect Donald Trump, signaling that Honduras could re-evaluate the presence of U.S. military bases on its soil if Trump’s administration adopts hostile policies towards Honduran migrants.
Castro stated, "After decades, the U.S. maintains military bases on our territory without paying a cent, but they would lose all reason to exist if they impose hostile measures against our citizens."
The Base Aérea Soto Cano, located in Palmerola, Comayagua, has served as a strategic hub for U.S. Southern Command operations since 1982, hosting over 500 U.S. military personnel and 500 civilians.
While hoped for an open and friendly dialogue with the new U.S. administration, Castro warned that mass deportations of Honduran migrants, as Trump proposed during his campaign, would be considered a hostile action. Meanwhile, Honduras revealed plans to formally protest against the U.S. government’s inclusion of magistrate Sonia Marlina Dubón in the Engel List and suspension of her visa, deeming it an interference in the country’s sovereignty.
Castro reiterated her rejection of Economic Development Zones (Zonas de Empleo y Desarrollo Económico – ZEDEs), accusing the neoliberal project of being a "betrayal of the homeland" that undermines national interests. In her capacity as pro tempore president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Castro pledged to work with Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, to convene a meeting of foreign ministers to tackle the migrant crisis and strengthen solidarity with nations such as Haiti and Cuba. She also called for the U.S. to invest in the interoceanic train project to foster economic development and boost bilateral cooperation.
Internal Struggles and Achievements
Reflecting on her government’s three-year progress, Castro underscored accomplishments in energy, economy, and social programs, despite what she described as a fierce battle against political opposition and media that attempt to sabotage her administration’s initiatives. She decried the bipartisan opposition’s legislative blockage of the Tax Justice Law, asserting it was a direct attack on the Honduran people.
Castro poked at Honduras’ "12-year, seven-month narcodictatorship," claiming that, in spite of the lasting damage, her term has marked significant achievements, including notable economic improvements by the close of 2024. She forecasts a continued positive economic growth rate of 3.5% to 4% for 2025.
Author: teleSUR – NH
Source: Government of Honduras, El Pais, El Proceso, HRN
