Guatemala's President Arévalo Firmly Rejects U.S. Military Strike Operations on Home Soil

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has explicitly ruled out any U.S. military strike operations against organized crime on Guatemalan territory, stating that the country's constitution prohibits joint military operations with foreign armed forces.

Speaking to AFP on Monday, Arévalo said that while he welcomes international cooperation, "the constitution does not allow for the execution or development of joint military operations with foreign armed forces."

U.S. Defense Secretary's Statements

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a CBS News interview one week earlier that targeted strike operations could be deployed in Guatemala and Ecuador to combat criminal gangs and drug trafficking.

Guatemala is currently a member of the anti-drug-trafficking coalition promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Arévalo noted that the cooperation agreement reached with Washington includes "training, tactical-level support for raid planning, and intelligence sharing." He also emphasized that armed action against criminal organizations remains the exclusive responsibility of Guatemalan security forces. Arévalo was speaking while attending the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly in Panama City.

Criminal Organizations Active in Guatemala

Drug trafficking organizations and gangs operating in Guatemala include Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18, both of which have been designated as "terrorist organizations" by the Trump administration.

Earlier this month, the United States carried out a raid in Venezuela that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as "Nino Guerrero," the leader of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua. Guerrero had previously been indicted in the United States on charges including drug trafficking, extortion, and other crimes, and carried a bounty of $5 million.

President Trump subsequently posted a video of the raid on social media showing an aerial overhead view of a building surrounded by greenery, followed by an explosion and rising smoke, with no clearly visible individuals in the footage.

As part of the Republican administration's anti-drug offensive, the United States has also launched airstrikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in more than 200 deaths. Washington has also acknowledged conducting joint operations with Ecuador along the Colombian border.

Guatemala Denies Joint Strike Agreement

Guatemala previously denied reports that it had reached a joint strike agreement with the United States to target drug traffickers on its soil, while acknowledging that it had requested Washington's assistance in combating drug cartels.

The New York Times, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that President Arévalo agreed to such operations during a phone call with Defense Secretary Hegseth last week. The move would mark an escalation of the Trump administration's campaign against what it calls "narco-terrorists," an effort that has expanded across Latin America and includes launching a multi-country anti-cartel coalition and joint operations against cocaine trafficking in Ecuador.

However, the Guatemalan government stated that "no agreement authorizes any foreign military operations on national territory."

Pentagon acting spokesman Joel Valdez told AFP earlier that the Defense Department "will not speculate about future operations" and would not discuss matters related to operational security.

Cooperation Framework and Constitutional Constraints

Arévalo stated that Guatemala has requested Washington's assistance in combating drug gangs, but that this does not involve the deployment of U.S. troops, as such a step would require congressional authorization.

He said the partnership "will involve equipment acquisition, training, and experts to support strategic and tactical-level operational planning."

According to a letter released by the Guatemalan government, Defense Minister Henry Saenz informed Hegseth that Guatemala "wishes, with the assistance of the United States of America, to lead aggressive military action against organizations designated as terrorist by the United States that are operating within this Central American country." The letter, dated May 23, defined the action as a "Guatemalan-led joint operation."

According to the government statement, Arévalo, along with the defense minister and foreign minister, held a phone call with Hegseth to "confirm the terms of cooperation."

In his letter, Saenz stated that Guatemala's request for U.S. cooperation in combating drug trafficking falls within the framework of the anti-cartel coalition launched by Trump at a summit with Latin American leaders in March of this year.

International cartels, with the assistance of local traffickers, conduct drug smuggling and money laundering operations in Guatemala and other Central American countries, exacerbating regional violence. According to U.S. officials, 90% of cocaine entering the United States is transported through Central America and Mexico via trucks, aircraft, ships, and submarines.

Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)

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