Peter J Meyer

Honduras: Background and U.s. Relations Peter J Meyer

Honduras, a Central American nation of 8.2 million people, has had close ties with the United States over many years. The country served as a base for U. S. operations in Central America during the 1980s, and it continues to host a U. S. military presence and cooperate on anti-drug efforts today. Trade and investment linkages are also long-standing, and have grown stronger since the implementation of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Migration is another central concern in bilateral relations; an estimated 1 million Hondurans reside in the United States?some 600,000 of whom are believed to be undocumented. Although the U. S.-Honduras relationship was somewhat strained as a result of the 2009 political crisis in Honduras, close cooperation quickly resumed in 2010. Current U. S. policy in Honduras is focused on strengthening democratic governance, including the promotion of human rights and the rule of law, enhancing economic prosperity, and improving the long-term security situation in the country.