Guatemala denies US agreement for joint airstrikes against cartels

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has refuted claims that his government agreed to joint airstrikes with the United States against drug cartels within Guatemala. The denial follows a report by The New York Times suggesting such an agreement would commence in June, based on a supposed call between Arévalo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

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What we have done is request cooperation from the United States government to support these operations led by Guatemalan forces within the framework of the United States' interest in combating drug trafficking networks.

Arévalo clarified that Guatemala's request to the U.S. focused on enhancing existing cooperation, specifically seeking support in equipment, training, and intelligence to bolster operations already led by Guatemalan forces. "What we have done is request cooperation from the United States government to support these operations led by Guatemalan forces within the framework of the United States' interest in combating drug trafficking networks," the president stated.

He stressed that any collaboration would strictly comply with Guatemala's Constitution and relevant legislation. "Guatemala does not sign any agreement that is not in accordance with the Constitution and the legislation on the matter," Arévalo affirmed, characterizing the requested collaboration as an intensification of past partnerships. This clarification comes amidst regional tensions surrounding security strategies, particularly the U.S. "Americas Shield" initiative, which Guatemala, along with other progressive administrations, has not joined.

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Guatemala does not sign any agreement that is not in accordance with the Constitution and the legislation on the matter. Therefore, what we are signing are types of collaboration that have been happening in the past and that we hope will intensify.

Arévalo also distanced Guatemala's approach from a controversial military cooperation model between the U.S. and Ecuador, which has reportedly led to unintended civilian harm. "We have no knowledge of the agreement that Ecuador signed with the United States of America; ours implies the intensification of the agreements we have already mentioned," he concluded, rejecting comparisons and reaffirming Guatemala's commitment to leading its own operations within legal boundaries.

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We have no knowledge of the agreement that Ecuador signed with the United States of America, the one we have implies the intensification of the agreements we have already mentioned.