Marco Rubio congratulates Honduran President-elect Nasry Asfura

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Congratulates Honduran President-elect Nasry Asfura

In a phone call on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Honduran President-elect Nasry Asfura on his victory in the country’s recent election. The Department of State stated that Rubio and Asfura discussed potential areas of cooperation, including trade and security.

According to the State Department, Rubio commended Asfura for his advocacy of US strategic objectives, including advancing bilateral and regional security cooperation, and strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Asfura claimed a narrow victory in the November 30 election, which was marked by controversy and allegations of fraud and impropriety.

The election saw Asfura, representing the National Party, win with 40.27 percent of the vote, while his opponent Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party secured 39.53 percent. Both candidates have disputed the results, with Nasralla accusing election authorities of betraying the Honduran people and taking aim at US President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Asfura.

Trump had previously stated that a victory for anyone but Asfura would put US economic ties with Honduras at risk. The election has been marked by tensions and protests, although they have remained peaceful so far. Asfura is of Palestinian descent, but his National Party is pro-Israel. He has aligned himself with Trump and other right-wing leaders in the Americas.

The phone call between Rubio and Asfura was seen as a positive development for US-Honduras relations, which have been shifting towards the Americas under the current administration. The US Department of State has stated that it will continue to engage with Honduras on issues such as trade and security.

Source: Al Jazeera