AGP Executive Report

Defense & Security: Honduras is evaluating acquiring Dominican-made Dulus aircraft and Furia armored vehicles to boost patrol and rapid-response capacity against organized crime, with talks held during President Nasry Asfura’s visit to the Dominican Republic. Diplomacy & Trade: Asfura and Dominican President Luis Abinader agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, connectivity, tourism, agriculture, security, migration and democracy, including intelligence collaboration. Energy & Climate Finance: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, with potential support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing, and Honduras is among eligible countries. Agriculture & Food Supply: Honduras is expected to start rambutan production in September through December, supporting a continuous supply window and creating promotion opportunities for retailers. Regional Business Links: The British Embassy and Crown Agents Bank convened financial leaders from Guatemala and Honduras to discuss strengthening financial connectivity to unlock trade and investment growth. Environment & Fisheries: Honduran divers are fighting invasive lionfish through community-led hunts and efforts to shift catches into restaurant supply chains. Immigration & Human Impact (US-Honduras link): A Honduran-born man extradited from Honduras to Philadelphia faces trial for the 2000 rape and murder of a 5-year-old girl, underscoring cross-border enforcement ties.

Defense & Security Procurement: Honduras is evaluating buying Dominican Republic-made Dulus aircraft and Furia armored vehicles to boost patrol and organized-crime response, with talks confirmed during President Nasry Asfura’s visit to Santo Domingo. Regional Diplomacy & Border Security: Asfura also praised the Dominican Republic’s border-security perimeter fence and military industry progress during tours along the border with President Luis Abinader. Energy Transition Financing: IRENA opened a call for renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Honduras, with potential support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing. Agribusiness Health & Trade: Belize and other OIRSA members, including Honduras, agreed to strengthen regional surveillance and coordination to protect agriculture production and cross-border trade from emerging diseases and pests. Oil & Maritime Trade: A public online auction was announced for the Honduran-flagged oil tanker “LONG MEI,” with bidding set for Sept. 16, 2026 (Beijing time). UK-Honduras Business Links: The British Embassy and Crown Agents Bank convened financial leaders from Guatemala and Honduras to discuss boosting trade, investment, and financial connectivity, citing 2025 UK-Honduras trade of $298.4M.

ICE Deportations & Public Safety Claims: DHS says ICE deported more illegal immigrants last week, naming people with convictions for murder, rape and arson, as the administration doubles down on enforcement. Election Fraud & Voting Access: A Honduran national was federally arrested in California for allegedly registering to vote while falsely claiming U.S. citizenship—an effort framed as the start of a broader crackdown. Regional Border Security Talk: Honduras President Nasry Asfura praised the Dominican Republic’s border security and “intelligent perimeter” efforts during a border tour, calling sovereignty “priceless.” Renewables Push for Central America: IRENA invited renewable project proposals across Honduras and the region for potential financing and de-risking via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing. Agriculture Disease Surveillance: Belize and OIRSA members, including Honduras, agreed to strengthen cross-border surveillance and standardized prevention for threats like avian influenza and African Swine Fever. Local Reef Conservation: Honduran divers in Tela are fighting invasive lionfish through community hunts and partnerships with fishers to protect native reef stocks.

Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable energy developers across Central America and the Caribbean, including Honduras, to submit projects for potential financing and de-risking via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing. Border Security & Industry: President Nasry Asfura Zablah highlighted the Dominican Republic’s intelligent perimeter fence and border-security progress during a tour, framing it as a model for sovereignty and future development. Marine Conservation to Jobs: Honduran divers in Tela are fighting invasive lionfish with community hunts and are now encouraging local fishers to supply restaurants, aiming to protect reef fish while creating income. Regional Trade Finance: The British Embassy and Crown Agents Bank convened financial leaders from Guatemala and Honduras to discuss strengthening financial connectivity to boost trade and investment, citing 2025 UK-Honduras trade of $298.4M. Agriculture Health: Belize and other OIRSA member countries, including Honduras, agreed to tighten regional surveillance and coordination to protect agricultural production and trade from cross-border diseases and pests.

Marine Conservation & Tourism: Honduran divers in Tela are stepping up lionfish control with community hunts and pushing local fishers to supply restaurants, aiming to protect reef fish stocks. Renewable Energy Finance: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Honduras, for potential support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing. UK–Honduras Trade & Finance: The British Embassy and Crown Agents Bank convened financial leaders from Guatemala and Honduras to boost trade, investment, and financial connectivity to global markets. Agribusiness & Health Security: Belize and Honduras (with OIRSA partners) agreed to strengthen regional agricultural disease surveillance and coordination to protect production and cross-border trade. Regional Cooperation: Belize and Honduras moved to deepen ties after Belize PM John Briceño’s visit, focusing on health, security, trade, climate, and connectivity. Honduras in U.S. Enforcement Headlines: U.S. prosecutors say Honduran illegal migrants make up about 80% of defendants in a Portland fentanyl trafficking crackdown, alongside major seizures of fentanyl, firearms, and cash.

US Immigration Crackdown & Deportations: ICE deported more illegal aliens last week, including people with convictions for murder, rape, and arson, as the administration pushes its mass removal agenda. Honduran Link in US Enforcement: Federal prosecutors say about 80% of more than 100 fentanyl trafficking defendants arrested in Portland since 2023 are illegal migrants from Honduras, tied to major seizures of fentanyl, firearms, and cash. Election Fraud Claims Hit Honduran: A Honduran national, Darwin Jonathan Rivera Flores, was federally charged in California for unlawfully registering to vote and falsely claiming US citizenship, with prosecutors calling it the start of more arrests. Regional Health & Agriculture Cooperation: Honduras and Belize joined other OIRSA members to strengthen cross-border surveillance and response to threats like African Swine Fever and avian influenza, aiming to protect agricultural production and trade. Bilateral Moves on Health & Security: Belize and Honduras agreed to deepen cooperation after Belize PM John Briceño’s visit, including medical training and specialist exchange talks. Trade/Ports Investment: Philippine ports group ICTSI, controlled by billionaire Enrique Razon, agreed to buy full ownership of TLG in Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa, signaling continued regional expansion. Drought Pressure in Central America: Central American countries declared a state of emergency over severe drought, with knock-on effects for agriculture and regional stability.

Immigration & Enforcement: U.S. federal authorities say ICE arrested about 50,000 people on immigration charges in July, with deportations continuing to dominate the political debate, including criticism of local cooperation with ICE and claims that enforcement is harming even people with no criminal record. Honduran Links in U.S. Cases: A federal crackdown in Portland says roughly 80% of fentanyl-trafficking defendants arrested since 2023 are illegal migrants from Honduras, while a separate U.S. election-fraud case charges a Honduran lawful permanent resident in California with falsely claiming citizenship to register to vote. Honduras in Regional Diplomacy: Honduras and Belize moved to deepen cooperation after Belize’s PM visit to Tegucigalpa, focusing on health, security, trade, climate and connectivity. Electoral Integrity Fallout: Honduras’ former electoral councilor Marlon Ochoa demanded answers from detained far-right consultant Fernando Cerimedo over alleged electoral coup involvement tied to the December 2025 Honduran vote. Business & Community: Dinant says it expanded education and community support to 100+ underserved Honduran communities across 16 municipalities.

Honduras-U.S. Drug Enforcement: Federal prosecutors in Oregon say illegal migrants from Honduras make up about 80% of defendants arrested in a multiyear Portland fentanyl crackdown, tied to seizures of roughly 100 kg of fentanyl, 40 firearms and $1.3 million in cash. Health & Regional Cooperation: Honduras joined PAHO’s Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, setting up a consultative roundtable to coordinate investment and strengthen primary health networks. Honduras-Belize Ties: After Prime Minister John Briceño’s visit to Tegucigalpa, both countries moved to deepen cooperation on health, security, trade, climate and connectivity, including a proposed medical exchange. Corporate Expansion in Honduras: Anduro Manufacturing opened a new packaging facility in San Pedro Sula within a free zone, expanding capacity to meet growing demand for polywoven bags. Community Development: Dinant says it expanded education and local support to more than 100 underserved Honduran communities across 16 municipalities, including teacher funding and school kits. Electoral Fraud Fallout: Honduras-linked political-media claims around detained consultant Fernando Cerimedo continue to escalate, with calls for Honduran justice over alleged electoral coup activity.

Primary Health Care Push: Honduras officially joined the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, setting up a consultative roundtable to coordinate investments and strengthen integrated primary health networks nationwide. Drought & Soil Stress: A UN report warns more than half of the world’s soils are in poor condition, while Honduras continues to face El Niño-driven drought, with COPECO raising alerts to red in dozens of municipalities. Corporate Expansion in Honduras: Anduro Manufacturing opened a new packaging facility in San Pedro Sula’s Zip San Jose free zone, expanding capacity to meet growing demand for polywoven bags. Community Investment: Dinant says its engagement program now supports 100+ underserved Honduran communities across 16 municipalities, including teacher funding, school kits, computers, and water-system upgrades. Security & Travel Signals: The U.S. updated its Honduras travel advisory, adding a “Do Not Travel” warning for Gracias a Dios due to high crime and trafficking risks. Regional Business Context: Belize tax workers walked out over its Revenue Authority Bill (SARA), highlighting how tax administration reforms can quickly turn into labor disputes.

Drought & Risk Management: Honduras raised its drought alert to red in 75 municipalities as El Niño dries reservoirs near Tegucigalpa, threatening water supplies and raising fire and food-security concerns. Corporate & Jobs: Anduro Manufacturing opened a new expanded packaging plant in San Pedro Sula’s Zip San Jose free zone, aiming to meet rising demand for polywoven bags and boosting local production capacity. Community Investment: Dinant expanded education and community support to 100+ underserved communities across 16 municipalities, funding teachers, school kits, computers, and water-system upgrades. Trade & Logistics: Crowley launched a new weekly container service linking Port Houston with Puerto Cortés and Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala, to speed Central America–U.S. supply chains for time-sensitive cargo. Tourism Security: The U.S. updated its Honduras travel advisory, adding a “Do Not Travel” warning for Gracias a Dios over high crime and trafficking risks. Labor & Cost Pressures (Context): A global minimum-wage comparison put Switzerland at the top and showed the U.S. far lower, underscoring how purchasing power varies even when wage headlines look similar.

New Investment in San Pedro Sula: Anduro Manufacturing opened a new woven polypropylene packaging facility in Honduras, doubling its footprint in the Zip San Jose free zone and relocating production to meet rising demand for polywoven bags, with Puerto Cortés nearby for logistics. Tourism & Security Signals: The U.S. State Department updated Honduras travel guidance to Level 3 “Reconsider Travel,” adding a “Do Not Travel” warning for Gracias a Dios due to high crime and violence risks, even as cruise traffic continues to bring visitors. Drought Pressure on Trade: Central American governments, including Honduras, declared emergency measures as El Niño-fueled drought threatens the Central American Dry Corridor and worsens conditions for crops and fires, with knock-on effects for regional supply chains. Logistics Boost for Exports: Crowley launched a direct weekly Port Houston service connecting Guatemala and Puerto Cortés, Honduras, starting Sept. 10, targeting faster transit for fresh produce, refrigerated goods, apparel and industrial shipments. Labor Tensions in the Region: Belize tax workers walked out over the SARA revenue authority bill while the prime minister was away, highlighting how tax administration reforms can quickly turn into business-impacting disruptions.

U.S.-Honduras immigration fallout: A U.S. Army sergeant’s wife was deported to Honduras after a final removal order, underscoring how fast-track enforcement is disrupting families and livelihoods. Security and travel risk: The U.S. State Department updated Honduras travel guidance with a “Do Not Travel” warning for Gracias a Dios, citing high violent-crime and organized-crime risks—an issue for cruise-linked tourism flows. Trade and logistics: Crowley announced a new weekly container service linking Port Houston with Guatemala and Puerto Cortés/Santo Tomás de Castilla in Honduras, aiming to speed shipments of fresh produce, apparel, and industrial goods. Regional climate shock: Central America declared drought emergencies as El Niño worsened water shortages, with knock-on effects for agriculture and the Panama Canal’s shipping capacity. Drug enforcement headlines: In Portland, prosecutors said most fentanyl trafficking defendants were illegal aliens from Honduras and Mexico, alongside major seizures of fentanyl, guns, and proceeds. Global poverty snapshot: Nigeria ranked among the world’s poorest in a GDP-PPP list, reflecting broader economic strain across the region.

Shipping & Trade: Crowley announced a new weekly container service linking Port Houston with Santo Tomás de Castilla (Guatemala) and Puerto Cortés (Honduras), with the first call set for Sept. 10 and Thursday departures, aiming to speed transits for fresh produce, apparel, industrial and other time-sensitive cargo. Regional Integration: Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño met Honduras President Nasry Asfura to deepen bilateral ties and push SICA regional cooperation, with health and security among the priorities. Climate & Logistics: El Niño has reactivated drought conditions across Honduras and is already affecting the Panama Canal, forcing shipping reductions and raising transport costs. Immigration Pressure on Families: Reports say the wife of an active-duty U.S. Army sergeant was deported to Honduras amid the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown. Cruise Safety: An MSC World America lifeguard was arrested in Miami over alleged sexual activity involving a 17-year-old passenger during a Western Caribbean cruise that included Roatán and other stops.

Honduras–Belize Diplomacy: Belize Prime Minister John Briceño met Honduras President Nasry Asfura on an official visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation under SICA, with health and security among the priorities, including plans for Belize to recruit Honduran medical professionals and for more Belizeans to study and train in Honduras. Climate Shock to Trade: El Niño has reactivated drought conditions in Honduras and is also hitting the Panama Canal, forcing shipping slowdowns and raising maritime transport costs—an added pressure point for Central American supply chains. Rural Poverty & Food Security: A Honduras Outreach program highlights how rural poverty is undermining farming livelihoods, with families moving away from farms as agriculture becomes less profitable amid worsening environmental conditions. Logistics Investment: Crowley announced a new weekly direct container service linking Port Houston with Santo Tomás de Castilla (Guatemala) and Puerto Cortés (Honduras), targeting refrigerated and time-sensitive cargo and aiming to cut delays from transshipment. Immigration Fallout (Honduras-linked): The U.S. deported the wife of an active-duty U.S. soldier to Honduras after TPS protections ended, underscoring the broader removal wave affecting Hondurans and other nationalities. Security Context: U.S. Southern Command resumed strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific, a reminder of the wider regional security backdrop affecting Honduras and neighbors.

Maritime Security & Drug Trade: The U.S. Southern Command says it resumed lethal strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and adding to a campaign critics call ineffective and potentially illegal. Trade & Logistics: Crowley announced a new weekly direct container service from Houston to Santo Tomás de Castilla (Guatemala) and Puerto Cortés (Honduras), targeting refrigerated and project cargo and aiming to cut delays from transshipment. Honduras Poverty & Rural Livelihoods: A report highlights how rural poverty and worsening conditions are undermining farming in Honduras, pushing families away from agriculture and raising food security risks. Regional Growth Outlook: ECLAC projects Latin America and the Caribbean will grow 2.2% in 2026, warning the pace is too weak to lift living standards—relevant for Honduras’ trade and investment climate. U.S. Immigration Pressure on Honduras: Coverage notes TPS terminations affecting people from Honduras and other countries, with more than a million losing protections and facing removal proceedings.

Cocaine Bust: Honduras security forces seized more than 1.5 tons of cocaine in just 48 hours, including a second shipment of over 900 kilos hidden in mangroves near Choluteca and Valle, with authorities saying the total could rise as searches continue. Regional Growth Watch: ECLAC projects Latin America’s economy will grow 2.2% in 2026 (up to 2.5% in 2027), warning the pace is too weak to lift living standards and close development gaps. Rural Poverty & Food Security: A World Food Programme-linked report highlights how rural poverty and chronic malnutrition are undermining farming livelihoods in Honduras, pushing families to leave their farms and raising food security risks. U.S. Policy Spillover on Honduras: New data show international student applications to the U.S. are falling overall, but Honduras is an exception with a sharp jump in applicants—set against tighter U.S. visa rules that could still reshape the pipeline. Immigration Shock: After TPS protections ended for nationals from 13 countries, Honduras is among those affected, leaving many facing removal proceedings and deportation flights. Security Debate: A Brazilian analyst warns U.S. ground military expansion across Latin America—including Honduras—signals an “escalation of imperialism,” intensifying sovereignty concerns.