US President Donald Trump has praised his conservative Honduran counterpart, Nasry Asfura, following a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, as Asfura pledged to become Washington’s “most reliable strategic partner”.
Asfura, a businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, was sworn in last week after winning the November elections with Trump’s support. During the campaign, Trump warned he would cut aid to Honduras if his ally lost.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he held an important meeting with his “friend” and the President of Honduras, adding that Asfura secured victory after receiving his endorsement. He noted that both leaders share similar “America First” values and maintain a close partnership on security.
Asfura described the Mar-a-Lago meeting as productive, saying both leaders agreed to strengthen investment and trade ties. He said Honduras aims to grow its economy, attract investors and establish itself as the United States’ most dependable strategic partner in the region, built on stability, security and a clear vision of prosperity.
The Honduran presidency released a photograph showing both leaders smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
Earlier, Asfura met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 12 January, after which both countries announced plans to pursue a free trade agreement.
Asfura’s victory handed Trump another ally in Latin America, following conservative gains over left-wing governments in Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina, largely driven by campaigns focused on crime and corruption.
Trump has continued to urge countries in the region to align closely with Washington rather than Beijing. Asfura, who replaced left-wing leader Xiomara Castro, has said he is considering shifting Honduras’ diplomatic recognition from China to Taiwan.
Ahead of the election, Trump also sparked controversy by pardoning former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of Asfura’s party, who had been serving a 45-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking. The decision drew criticism, particularly as US authorities intensified actions against alleged drug trafficking networks across the region.