TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — President Xiomara Castro of Honduras is signaling a dramatic shift in her country's relations with the United States, suggesting that Honduras may reconsider its military cooperation if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his threats of mass deportations.

In a public address on New Year’s Day, Castro stated, “Faced with a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers, we would have to consider a change of our cooperation policies with the United States, especially in the military realm.” She emphasized that the U.S. has maintained a presence in Honduras for decades without providing compensation, and if large-scale deportations occur, that presence would lose its justification. Castro expressed hope for a dialogue with the Trump administration, as reported by LA Times.

This warning from Castro follows a series of contentious comments from Trump, who has expressed intentions to impose tariffs on countries like Mexico and has criticized transit fees to the Panama Canal, leading to retaliatory responses from regional leaders. The main U.S. military presence in Honduras is located at Soto Cano Air Base, which has been essential for U.S. humanitarian and anti-drug missions since 1983.

While the U.S. Defense Department declined to provide comments on the situation, stressing that it pertains to statements made during the campaign rather than formal policy, political opposition within Honduras has emerged. Critics, including Jorge Cálix, a potential presidential candidate for the Liberal Party, argue that Castro's stance could jeopardize national interests. Olban Valladares, another political analyst and prospective candidate from the Innovation and Unity Party, labeled her comments as unrealistic, asserting, “She knows we don’t have the ability to threaten the United States in any way; the damages it would cause Honduras would be terrible.” He warned that her statements might inadvertently put Honduran migrants in more precarious positions with the incoming Trump administration.

The situation continues to evolve as regional dynamics shift following Trump's election, placing Honduras at a crossroads in its foreign relations and internal politics. For more detailed coverage, refer to the original article by the Associated Press.