Guatemala has asked the United States for military cooperation, including access to equipment, training, and experts to support counter-narcotics operations, President Bernardo Arévalo said on Thursday.
The Guatemalan government emphasized that these joint plans do not involve US military operations on Guatemalan soil and fall within existing bilateral agreements. “No agreement permits foreign military operations on national territory,” the government stated.
According to the announcement, President Arévalo and Defense Minister Henry Sáenz communicated with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to confirm the terms of cooperation, following Sáenz's request for support. The agreement aims to expand on a strategy already in place since 2024.
“We discussed the possibility of enhancing ongoing cooperation under existing bilateral agreements,” Arévalo told reporters.
The New York Times first reported on these talks, describing the move as part of a broader White House strategy to normalize US military presence across Latin America to exert leverage on Mexico. The Pentagon is also reportedly seeking to pressure Honduras into accepting joint military operations.
The Pentagon said it would not speculate on future operations or discuss operational security matters. “Under Secretary Hegseth's leadership, the department will continue to work with trusted partners to defend the homeland and ensure security in the Western Hemisphere,” spokesperson Joel Valdez said.
The White House stated that “the administration continues to work to advance the president's agenda.” The Honduran embassy in the US did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has long maintained that she welcomes intelligence sharing and security cooperation but will not accept US agents or forces operating on Mexican soil.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for greater use of US military force against Mexican drug cartels and threatened unilateral action if Washington deems Mexico's efforts insufficient. The Trump administration began targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific last September, asserting they are at war with so-called “drug terrorists” operating from Latin America.
However, the US has yet to provide concrete evidence that the targeted vessels are linked to drug trafficking, sparking debate over the legality of the campaigns.
International cartels, with the help of local drug traffickers, transport drugs and launder money in Guatemala and other Central American countries, fueling regional violence. According to US officials, 90% of cocaine reaching the US passes through Central America and Mexico via trucks, aircraft, boats, and submarines.
