Honduras and Mexico share a common history. Both nations were colonized and pertained to the Spanish Empire. Soon after achieving Independence in 1821, Honduras belonged to the First Mexican Empire until 1823 when it then joined the United Provinces of Central America. After its dissolution in 1838, Honduras became an independent nation. Honduras and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1879. In 1908, both nations established resident diplomatic missions in each other's capitals, respectively. That same year, a treaty of 'Friendship, Commerce and Navigation' was signed between both nations. In 1943, their diplomatic missions were elevated to embassies. Mexico has actively observed and become involved in Honduran affairs throughout the country's early turbulent history which involved coup d'état, military rule, US intervention and wars with neighboring countries. In 1969, Honduras went to war with El Salvador known as the Football War for which Mexico intervened diplomatically and tried to resolve between the two countries. In June 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup d'état and taken to neighboring Costa Rica. Like several other Latin American nations, Mexico temporarily severed diplomatic relations with Honduras. In July 2010, full diplomatic relations were once again re-established. As of January 2019, the ambassador of Mexico to Honduras is Dolores Jiménez Hernández.
Migration
For several decades, Mexico has been a transit country for thousands of Honduran migrants who enter the country on their way to the United States. Many Honduran migrants flee to the United States for better economic opportunities and/or to escape rampant crime and gang violence in their country, especially from the MS-13/Mara Salvatrucha. In 2014, Mexico deported over 33,000 Honduran migrants back to Honduras. Both the governments of Honduras and Mexico have increased mutual cooperation to provide legal and humanitarian assistance to Honduran migrants in Mexico and to combat human trafficking and violence against migrants in Mexico. Both nations have also agreed to combat the presence of Mexican cartels operating in Honduras. In 2018, several hundreds to a few thousands Hondurans formed part of the Central American migrant caravans and traversed all of Mexico to the northern city ofTijuana to request asylum in the United States. In 2018, over 640 Hondurans requested and obtained asylum in Mexico where many are choosing to remain rather than face the uncertainty of trying to request asylum in the US and also not wishing to be denied and deported back to Honduras.
Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as an Agreement on Touristic Cooperation ; Agreement on Combating Drug Trafficking and Drug Dependency ; Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation ; Agreement on Educational and Cultural Cooperation ; Treaty on Joint Execution of Criminal Sentences ; Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and a Treaty on Maritime Delimitation.
In 2001, Mexico and Honduras signed a free trade agreement known as the Free Trade Agreement with the Northern Triangle. In January 2013, the free trade agreement expanded to include Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In 2018, total trade between Honduras and Mexico amounted to US$1 billion. Hondura's main exports to Mexico include: automobile parts; shrimp and lobsters; cotton; lead; palm oil; coffee and textiles. Mexico's main exports to Honduras include: electronics ; toys; equipment for the cement industry; leather; avocados; medicines; diapers and personal hygiene products. Since 2012, Mexico is the largest foreign direct investor in Honduras. In 2016, Mexico invested US$138 million in Honduras. Mexican investments represent 12% of all total foreign investments in Honduras. Several Mexican multinational companies such as América Móvil, Cemex, Grupo Bimbo and Gruma operate in Honduras.
