US congratulates Honduras' president-elect, seeks cooperation on migration, security

The United States has officially recognized the victory of conservative candidate Nasry Asfura in Honduras' presidential election, urging all political actors to respect the certified results and ensure a smooth transfer of power. In a statement issued Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Asfura and laid out a clear agenda for collaboration with the incoming administration, focusing sharply on issues central to US domestic and foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

A Clear Agenda: Migration, Security, and Economics

Secretary Rubio's statement detailed Washington's expectations for the bilateral partnership. He expressed the US desire to work with the Asfura administration to "advance our bilateral and regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen the economic ties between our two countries." This trifecta of priorities—migration, security, and trade—reflects the core tenets of the Trump administration's approach to Central America, viewing the region primarily through the lenses of border security and economic opportunity.

The Electoral Outcome and US Pre-Election Support

The Honduran National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Asfura the winner on Wednesday after a tightly contested race. Official results gave the National Party candidate 40.3% of the vote, a narrow lead over Liberal Party rival Salvador Nasralla, who secured 39.5%. The US congratulation follows public expressions of support from President Donald Trump in the days leading up to the November election. Trump had promised US assistance to the Central American nation if Asfura won, signaling a preference for a conservative ally perceived as more likely to cooperate on Washington's key demands, particularly regarding migrant flows.

A Call for Stability and the Path Forward

Beyond outlining policy goals, Secretary Rubio's statement served as a call for political stability in a country with a history of contested elections and unrest. "The United States urges all parties to respect the confirmed results so that Honduran authorities may swiftly ensure a peaceful transition of authority to President-Elect Nasry Asfura," he wrote. A stable and cooperative government in Tegucigalpa is seen in Washington as essential for managing the chronic drivers of northward migration and for countering criminal networks and external influences, like those from China and Venezuela, in America's immediate neighborhood.