President Donald Trump's sudden interest in Honduras' presidential election may seem peculiar given his current mulling of military action against Venezuela. However, Trump has been a surprisingly prominent factor in the closing days of the Honduran race, with a clear bias towards conservative candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura.
The US president took an unusual step last week by publicly endorsing Asfura, stating that he could work together to fight Narcocommunists and bring much-needed aid to Honduras. Conversely, Trump described Nasralla as a "borderline communist." This kind of language suggests that Trump's priorities in the region are not solely focused on Venezuelan affairs but also extend to how Latin American countries address issues such as narcotrafficking.
Furthermore, Trump recently gave a full pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking in New York last year and serving a 45-year sentence. This move comes despite Hernández being accused by the Biden administration of running Honduras like a narcostate.
Given that Trump is currently weighing military action against a Venezuelan president also accused of similar crimes, one might expect him to avoid pardoning another leader with similar charges. However, it appears that Hernández's situation was different, at least according to Trump and his advisors. While much of the case against Hernández was built during Trump's first term, the pardon decision could be seen as a tactical move aimed at benefiting the National Party in Honduras.
With the presidential election now underway and counting nearing completion, Trump has intervened again by accusing Honduran electoral authorities of fraud without providing evidence. As the votes are tallied, it appears that Nasralla is gaining ground on Asfura, potentially altering the trajectory of Honduran politics.
This situation may seem isolated but can be understood within the broader context of US intervention in Honduras' politics dating back to the early 20th century through to the present day. This history suggests that Trump's actions are not unprecedented and reflect a long-standing interest in Honduras' political landscape.
The stakes of this election extend beyond Honduran domestic affairs, impacting cooperation between the US on migration and counternarcotics issues as well as China's growing influence in the region. Trump seems to be prioritizing rolling back Chinese influence in Latin America through this election.
Trump's intervention in the Honduran election has also raised questions about his administration's priorities in Latin America. It appears that finding personal channels of communication with influential figures in Honduras may prove more effective than traditional diplomatic channels, as seen in the way Roger Stone was able to persuade Trump to pardon Hernández.
The US president took an unusual step last week by publicly endorsing Asfura, stating that he could work together to fight Narcocommunists and bring much-needed aid to Honduras. Conversely, Trump described Nasralla as a "borderline communist." This kind of language suggests that Trump's priorities in the region are not solely focused on Venezuelan affairs but also extend to how Latin American countries address issues such as narcotrafficking.
Furthermore, Trump recently gave a full pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking in New York last year and serving a 45-year sentence. This move comes despite Hernández being accused by the Biden administration of running Honduras like a narcostate.
Given that Trump is currently weighing military action against a Venezuelan president also accused of similar crimes, one might expect him to avoid pardoning another leader with similar charges. However, it appears that Hernández's situation was different, at least according to Trump and his advisors. While much of the case against Hernández was built during Trump's first term, the pardon decision could be seen as a tactical move aimed at benefiting the National Party in Honduras.
With the presidential election now underway and counting nearing completion, Trump has intervened again by accusing Honduran electoral authorities of fraud without providing evidence. As the votes are tallied, it appears that Nasralla is gaining ground on Asfura, potentially altering the trajectory of Honduran politics.
This situation may seem isolated but can be understood within the broader context of US intervention in Honduras' politics dating back to the early 20th century through to the present day. This history suggests that Trump's actions are not unprecedented and reflect a long-standing interest in Honduras' political landscape.
The stakes of this election extend beyond Honduran domestic affairs, impacting cooperation between the US on migration and counternarcotics issues as well as China's growing influence in the region. Trump seems to be prioritizing rolling back Chinese influence in Latin America through this election.
Trump's intervention in the Honduran election has also raised questions about his administration's priorities in Latin America. It appears that finding personal channels of communication with influential figures in Honduras may prove more effective than traditional diplomatic channels, as seen in the way Roger Stone was able to persuade Trump to pardon Hernández.