TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Honduran President Nasry Asfura said Saturday he is considering switching diplomatic recognition from China back to Taiwan after meeting with US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Asfura is a conservative businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa who won the presidential election with strong backing from Trump and was sworn in last week, per AFP. Trump described the meeting on his social media platform Truth Social as “very important,” saying they discussed bilateral security, investment, and trade.
Trump had previously threatened to sever aid to Honduras if Asfura had lost the election. Trump credited Asfura’s victory to his endorsement, saying, “Once I gave him my strong Endorsement, he won his Election! Tito and I share many of the same America First Values.”
Asfura succeeds leftist leader Xiomara Castro, who shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. Following the Trump meeting, Asfura said he is reassessing Honduras’ diplomatic direction and considering transferring recognition from Beijing back to Taipei, per Liberty Times.
Before taking office, Asfura met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Jan. 12, announcing plans to launch free trade agreement negotiations. His election victory represents another success for Trump in cultivating conservative allies in Latin America.
Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina are currently led by pro-US governments that replaced leftist leaders after campaigning on tough-on-crime platforms.
