Trump praises new Honduran president after meeting at Mar-a-Lago, affirms security and economic partnership

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump praised his Honduran counterpart Nasri Asfoura on Saturday, following a meeting between the two at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, pointing to a convergence of values and understandings in the areas of security and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Asfoura, a conservative businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, took office as President of Honduras last week after winning elections in November, with Trump's public support. The U.S. President had previously hinted at cutting aid to the country if Asfoura lost the elections.

Trump stated on his platform "Truth Social" that he held a "very important meeting" with Asfoura, considering his support as a decisive factor in his victory, and affirming that both sides share "America First" values, along with a close security partnership. He added that the meeting also addressed investment and trade issues.

Asfoura is scheduled to hold a press conference today, Sunday, to present the results of his talks with Trump.

The Honduran president had met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last January, where both sides announced their intention to work on establishing a free trade agreement.

Asfoura's victory enhances Trump's allies' presence in Latin America, amidst political shifts that have seen the rise of conservatives focusing their campaigns on combating crime and corruption, in contrast to the decline of leftist forces in several countries in the region. These developments also come amid pressure from Washington on neighboring countries to choose closer partnerships with it instead of turning towards Beijing.