Guatemalan president highlights new relationship between Prosecutor's Office and US at 'highest level'

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León has emphasized a significant improvement in the relationship between the country's Public Ministry and the United States, describing it as being at the "highest level."

Arévalo lauded a recent meeting in Washington between the new Guatemalan prosecutor general, Gabriel García Luna, and several U.S. officials, which also included Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda. The president highlighted the importance of this engagement, noting that Guatemalan Public Ministry authorities had previously been unable to obtain U.S. visas, a situation that had paralyzed relations since 2021.

This diplomatic shift contrasts sharply with the tenure of former prosecutor general Consuelo Porras Argueta, who was sanctioned by the U.S. for corruption and faced visa restrictions. Arévalo pointed out that the renewed cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice is vital for more effectively confronting organized crime and drug trafficking.

The president also cited the recent capture of 27 individuals in Guatemala wanted by U.S. authorities for extradition as a testament to the successful joint work. Arévalo expressed confidence that this enhanced collaboration will lead to increased cooperation from the United States, bolstering Guatemala's efforts against criminal networks.