Pentagon reaffirms military-to-military ties with ‘Northern Triangle' countries

When embattled Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández landed via helicopter at Soto Cano air base outside of Comayagua on 21 June, US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Commander Admiral Craig Faller and the US Chargé d’Affaires to Honduras Heide Fulton were on the ground to greet him and publicly reaffirm the US military’s commitment to the nation.

Words such as ‘trust’, ‘friendship’, and ‘partnership’ were echoed by a host of speakers during the opening ceremony of the deployment of a US Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command (SPMAGTF-SC) to the region.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández (centre) talks with USSOUTHCOM Commander Admiral Craig Faller (far left), the US Chargé d’Affaires to Honduras Heide Fulton (left), and other military officials from the region on 21 June. Military leaders gathered at Soto Cano air base in Honduras for the opening ceremony of a US SPMAGTF-SC that will be in the region for the 2019 hurricane season. (Ashley Roque/Janes)

“It’s by our friendship and partnership built over so many years of working together that we are allowed to be here. We don’t take that for granted; it’s built on mutual respect and trust,” Adm Faller told the audience. “We have very strong military-to-military relations and we work tirelessly … to continue to strengthen those relationships. So, muchas gracias.”