Honduras has delivered a stark warning to the United States, vowing to expel U.S. military forces from its territory if President-elect Donald Trump moves forward with his proposed mass deportation of Central American refugees and asylum seekers. The bold declaration by Honduran President Xiomara Castro has escalated tensions, signaling potential shifts in long-standing bilateral relations.
“Bases Will Lose Their Purpose”
In a televised address, President Castro condemned Trump’s plan, which he described during his campaign as the “largest deportation program in American history.” Castro warned that any large-scale deportation targeting Honduran migrants would prompt her administration to reconsider the U.S. military’s presence at Soto Cano Air Base, located south of Comayagua.
The base, a key hub for Joint Task Force Bravo, has been operational since 1983, supporting humanitarian and anti-drug trafficking missions. However, Castro argued the arrangement disproportionately benefits the U.S., noting, “For decades, without paying a cent, [the U.S.] maintains military bases on our territory. In this case, they would lose all reason to exist in Honduras.”
Political and Diplomatic Fallout
The announcement has drawn significant domestic and international backlash. Opposition leaders in Honduras have accused Castro of endangering the country for personal and ideological motives. Liberal Party presidential candidate Jorge Cálix criticized the move, stating it places “Honduras in grave danger” by unnecessarily provoking the U.S.
Olban Valladares, from the Innovation and Unity Party, expressed concerns about how such a decision could worsen the plight of Honduran migrants under a Trump administration, saying: “She knows we don’t have the ability to threaten the United States in any way, and the damages it would cause Honduras would be terrible.”
Implications for U.S.-Honduras Relations
The potential removal of the U.S. military would mark a significant rupture in the long-standing relationship between the two countries. The Soto Cano Air Base serves as a cornerstone for U.S. humanitarian and security efforts in Central America, with its “temporary but indefinite” presence justified by the Pentagon for counter-narcotics and disaster relief missions.
The U.S. Embassy in Honduras and the Pentagon have yet to issue formal responses. However, Washington has reportedly downplayed the remarks, suggesting they are a reaction to campaign rhetoric rather than official U.S. policy.
Central American Migration Crisis
At the heart of the dispute is the ongoing migration crisis. Tens of thousands of Hondurans flee violence, poverty, and corruption each year, seeking refuge in the United States. Trump’s proposed deportation program would aim to reverse this migration flow, potentially sending many back to a nation struggling with endemic issues. Castro framed her remarks as a defense of “our brothers” against a “hostile attitude” from Washington.
What’s Next?
As the Trump administration’s policy on Central America takes shape post-inauguration, the risk of escalating tensions remains high. For Honduras, the stakes are immense. Expelling U.S. forces could destabilize its already fragile security landscape, but acquiescing to Trump’s mass deportation policies risks undermining Castro’s political standing and exposing the country to further internal strife. The coming months will reveal whether these threats mark the start of a diplomatic standoff or a prelude to negotiation.