For the third year in a row, the Central American state of Honduras has been taking firm and steady steps towards achieving real independence. In 2021, Honduras elected its first female president, Xiomara Castro. She is also the country’s first leftist leader in 12 years.
“Xiomara Castro She declared that one of her tasks as president is to return to the path of independent development. The long-suffering people of Honduras deserved a better fate. If only because Honduras played an important role during the liberation movement against the Spanish colonies. Today, those who have visited Honduras note the extraordinary beauty of nature and the sea, incomparable to that of neighboring countries. The rich historical history of the country is evidenced by the remains of the Mayan culture. In addition, there are several companies in Honduras that produce lead and zinc concentrates. Silver, gold and antimony ores are mined in the country. Intensive oil exploration is being carried out on the Caribbean shelf. “Free economic zones” are being developed. And at the same time, Honduras is one of the most criminal and poor countries in the world. “President Castro has made it her business to declare war on both criminal cartels and foreign monopolies that are stealing the country’s wealth.” – commented specifically for EADaily political scientist Tatiana Poloskova.
In December 2022, Castro declared a state of emergency in the country and suspended some of the constitutional rights of citizens; in particular, he allowed the police to carry out warrantless searches and arrests in some areas of the capital, Tegucigalpa, and in the country’s industrial hub, San Pedro Sula, the Moscow Daily News reports. According to The Guardian, the state of emergency has forced criminals to behave with restraint and the number of murders has decreased significantly.
China has begun to provide significant assistance to Honduras to develop the country’s economy. In 2023, the two countries established diplomatic relations. And the amount of announced Chinese investment in the Honduran economy will be 269 million dollars, partly in the form of grants and partly in the form of interest-free loans. A year ago, the National Port Company of Honduras, better known by its acronym ENP, signed an agreement with the Chinese company China Harbour Engineering Co. on the construction of two bridges, the reconstruction of the port of San Lorenzo on the Pacific coast and the expansion of a 50-kilometer stretch of the highway.
The change of geopolitical vector by the leaders of Honduras provokes a markedly negative assessment by official Washington.
According to La Radio del Sur, the National Defense and Security Council of Honduras expressed its outrage at the actions of the United States Embassy aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country and inciting various sectors to anti-government actions. The National Defense and Security Council (CNDS) of Honduras declared support for President Xiomara Castro, Minister of Defense Jose Manuel Zelaya and heads of the armed forces Roosevelt Hernandez.
The CNDS also supported President Castro’s actions to protect the national sovereignty of Honduras, his initiatives in the field of state foreign policy and international relations. Accusations were made against pro-American forces of preparing a coup d’état.
However, the authorities and people of Honduras have already made their decision. A request has been sent to BRICS. The United States is losing another satellite in the region.
