Honduran President Xiomara Castro issued a stern warning earlier this week over President-elect Trump's pledge to pursue mass deportations when he returns to the White House, threatening to ban U.S. troops from the Latin American country. did.
“Faced with the hostile attitude of mass expulsions of our compatriots, we will have to consider changing our policy of cooperation with the United States, especially in the military field,” Castro said in a televised address on Wednesday.
US troops have been stationed at Sotocano Air Base in the town of Comayagua, on the outskirts of the capital Tegucigalpa, for at least 40 years, the news agency said. Associated Press. Joint Task Force Bravo has occupied the area to stem the cross-border flow of drugs and other contraband, but has not officially purchased space for the force, the newspaper reported.
In his speech, Castro said Republican efforts to remove Latino immigrants from the United States would force the friendship agreement to end. The president-elect has maintained that his plan focuses on curbing illegal immigration and closing borders, a promise he has consistently made during his campaign.
Both leaders faced criticism for their proposals.
President Trump has come under scrutiny for procedural policies that violate the Constitution's birthright citizenship clause and efforts to detain legally-status children with undocumented parents. Still, he has repeatedly promised that “on day one, we will launch the largest deportation program in American history.”
Castro's political opponents argued that removing the U.S. military, considered one of its largest trading partners, would leave the country extremely vulnerable.
Jorge Calix, who has emerged as a likely challenger in the next general election, argued that such a step would put Honduras in “grave danger”, citing personal and ideological issues. . Another analyst who has contemplated her own candidacy called her threats unrealistic.
“She knows that we do not have the ability to intimidate the United States in any way, and that the damage that would do to Honduras would be enormous,” Orbán Validares said, according to the Associated Press. ” he said. He also noted that immigrants from the country will become a further target for the next administration.
Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reyna pushed back, arguing that Castro had the power to disband the army without parliamentary approval.
The Pentagon declined to comment, telling the news agency that the issue “relates to campaign statements, not policy.”
The threat also comes after President Trump announced new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China in time for his inauguration later this month.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
