Guatemala Agrees to Joint Military Strikes With U.S. in Expanding Drug War
The deal marks the second Latin American country to allow U.S. military operations within its borders as Trump administration pressures Mexico.
Guatemala has agreed to conduct joint military strikes with the United States inside its territory to target drug trafficking organizations, marking a significant expansion of the Trump administration's military campaign across Latin America. The arrangement makes Guatemala the second country in the region to permit such operations, following a similar agreement with Ecuador earlier this year.
President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala finalized the agreement during a phone call with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on May 19, according to three people familiar with the negotiations. The operations, which will include both airstrikes and other military activities, are scheduled to begin as early as next month. Guatemala formally requested "cooperation in operations led by Guatemalan security forces against drug trafficking organizations" in a letter to Hegseth.
The agreement follows the model established in Ecuador, where U.S. forces are currently advising and assisting Ecuadorean troops on raids and airstrikes against suspected drug gangs. Ecuador's participation came as the country grappled with unprecedented violence from criminal organizations that have transformed it into one of the deadliest nations in Latin America.
According to sources familiar with the Trump administration's strategy, the agreements with Guatemala and other regional partners are part of a broader effort to pressure Mexico into accepting joint counterdrug operations. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has firmly rejected American requests for U.S. military presence and drone strikes within Mexican territory, leading Washington to pursue alternative approaches.
The next target for U.S. military cooperation appears to be Honduras, with Defense Department officials planning to press that country to accept joint operations. The White House's broader strategy aims to normalize an American military presence across Latin America to gain leverage over Mexico in negotiations. This approach represents a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in regional security issues and could reshape military relationships throughout Central and South America.
