https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/5/why-is-honduras-threatening-to-expel-us-troops
Donald Trump has threatened to deport thousands of undocumented Honduran immigrants from the US. Honduran President, Xiomara Castro, has thus threatened to expel US troops from Honduras, which would render the US military facilities in Honduras pretty much useless. Moreover, Castro criticized the facilities even being on Honduran soil in the first place, as it was originally intended to fight off communist threats in the area. Despite these threats, the US military presence in Venezuela does provide some economic boost and overall supports the development of infrastructure, so it would be unwise to just kick them out. On the other hand, too, immigrants from Honduras are vital workers in labor intensive work, so it would also be unwise for the US to follow through.
Because president elect Donald Trump is very adamant about the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the US, there is a chance that we will follow through. However, if then Honduras were to carry out the threat of expelling US forces, then the US would be left with less military presence in central america, and China right now does not have a military presence there, so in competition the US will definitely consider either not deporting the Honduran immigrants as forcefully as promised or will stay if ordered to leave. Though, it is also probably the threats made by Honduras are just to try and aid the immigrants in the US by making the US reconsider a little, because against the military presence is important.
This is a representation of hard and soft powers. The military presence and power of the US and the security that it provides is a hard power while the threat of expulsion by Honduras is pretty soft as the US doesn’t need the facilities even though it may be good for competition against China.