The government of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo issued a formal denial on Thursday regarding reports that it had reached an agreement to allow the United States to conduct military strikes against drug traffickers within its borders. The administration’s statement was issued in direct response to a report published earlier that day by The New York Times, which cited two unidentified sources claiming that President Arevalo had greenlit such operations.
“There is no agreement authorising foreign military operations by any country within national territory,” the Guatemalan government stated. While the administration confirmed it has actively sought security cooperation with Washington, it emphasized that any such efforts remain strictly within the confines of the national constitution and existing bilateral security treaties.
To clarify the nature of the requested partnership, the Guatemalan government released a letter dated May 28 from Defense Minister Henry Saenz to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. In the correspondence, Saenz expressed a desire for Guatemala to lead operations against groups identified by Washington as “designated terrorist organisations” (DTOs) with US logistical and tactical assistance.
“In accordance with existing bilateral agreements and arrangements, such combined Guatemala-led operations would further bilateral interests in defeating DTOs and advancing regional and hemispheric security,” Saenz wrote in the letter. Officials stressed that this request for assistance does not constitute an invitation for the US military to launch independent attacks or unilateral strikes within Guatemala.
This diplomatic tension arises as the United States continues a broader strategy of using military force against suspected drug-trafficking networks in the region. Since 2025, the US has carried out air strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. One such recent operation against an alleged drug boat in the Pacific resulted in at least one fatality.
The administration of President Donald Trump has demonstrated an increased willingness to utilize military force in Latin America to combat narcotics trafficking. The current situation in Guatemala reflects a delicate balance, as regional leaders navigate the pressure to address escalating gang and cartel violence while maintaining sovereignty against foreign military intervention.
