Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has firmly rejected the possibility of United States military operations being conducted inside Guatemala to target organized crime groups, emphasizing that the country’s constitution prohibits joint military actions involving foreign armed forces.
Speaking on Monday while attending the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama City, Arévalo clarified that although Guatemala welcomes international cooperation in combating drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations, any direct military intervention by foreign forces remains off limits under national law.
“The constitution does not allow the operation or conduct of joint military operations with foreign armed forces,” Arévalo said, seeking to dispel speculation that Guatemala might permit US military strikes against criminal groups operating within its territory.
The remarks come amid growing debate over Washington’s increasingly aggressive anti-cartel strategy under President Donald Trump and recent comments by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggesting that targeted military strikes could be considered in countries such as Guatemala and Ecuador to combat drug trafficking networks and criminal gangs.
In an interview with CBS News last week, Hegseth indicated that targeted operations could be deployed against organizations involved in narcotics trafficking and regional criminal activities. His comments fueled concerns across Latin America that the United States might expand its military role in the region’s fight against organized crime.
Despite those concerns, Arévalo stressed that cooperation between Guatemala and the United States is focused on intelligence, training, and operational planning support rather than direct military intervention.
According to the Guatemalan president, agreements reached with Washington include “training, support at the level of tactical operations for the planning of raids, and intelligence sharing.” He emphasized that armed operations against criminal organizations remain solely the responsibility of Guatemalan security forces.
“Guatemalan institutions will continue to lead and execute all security operations within our territory,” Arévalo said.
The clarification follows reports suggesting Guatemala had reached an understanding with the United States that could potentially allow joint military actions against drug traffickers and gangs. The New York Times reported that Arévalo discussed possible anti-cartel operations with Hegseth during a recent telephone conversation, citing individuals familiar with the discussions.
However, Guatemala’s government quickly denied that any agreement existed authorizing foreign military operations within the country. Officials reiterated that national sovereignty and constitutional restrictions remain unchanged.
“There is no agreement authorizing foreign military operations by any country within national territory,” the government said in a statement.
The issue has attracted international attention because Guatemala occupies a strategic position in the drug trafficking routes that connect South America to North America. International cartels and local criminal organizations use the country as a major transit corridor for cocaine and other illicit substances destined for the United States.
US officials estimate that approximately 90 percent of the cocaine reaching American markets passes through Central America and Mexico via a complex network of trucks, aircraft, vessels, and even semi-submersible craft.
The security challenges facing Guatemala are considerable. Powerful criminal organizations, including the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs, maintain significant influence in parts of the country. The Trump administration has designated several of these groups as terrorist organizations, arguing that their activities pose a direct threat to regional stability and US national security.
Guatemala has increasingly sought international assistance to confront these groups, which are involved in drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, human smuggling, and other forms of organized crime.
According to a letter released by the Guatemalan government, Defense Minister Henry Saenz communicated Guatemala’s interest in leading anti-crime military operations with support from the United States.
In correspondence dated May 23 and addressed to Hegseth, Saenz wrote that Guatemala “wants to lead, with the assistance of the United States of America, active military operations to combat terrorist organizations designated by the United States” within Guatemalan territory.
The wording sparked debate about the extent of Washington’s potential involvement. However, government officials have pointed to another section of the letter that describes such actions as “combined operations led by Guatemala,” underscoring that local authorities would remain in command.
Arévalo’s administration maintains that any cooperation framework would involve access to equipment, military expertise, training programs, and operational planning assistance rather than deployment of US combat forces.
The partnership forms part of a broader regional anti-cartel initiative promoted by President Trump following a summit with Latin American leaders earlier this year. The alliance seeks to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve border security, disrupt narcotics supply chains, and enhance coordination among participating countries.
The Trump administration has made combating drug cartels a central component of its foreign and security policy. Washington argues that transnational criminal organizations have evolved into sophisticated networks capable of destabilizing governments, facilitating mass migration, and fueling violence across the Western Hemisphere.
Recent US operations demonstrate the administration’s willingness to use military force against criminal targets beyond its borders.
Earlier this month, the United States carried out a raid in Venezuela that resulted in the death of Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Nino Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the notorious Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
Guerrero had been charged in the United States with drug trafficking, extortion, and other criminal offenses. American authorities had offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to his capture.
President Trump later shared footage of the operation on social media. The video showed an aerial view of a structure surrounded by dense vegetation before an explosion erupted, sending a large cloud of smoke into the air. No individuals were clearly visible in the footage.
The operation was widely viewed as evidence of Washington’s readiness to directly target criminal leaders considered threats to US interests.
Beyond Venezuela, the United States has intensified military activities aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking routes throughout the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. According to US officials, airstrikes have been conducted against suspected drug-trafficking vessels as part of broader interdiction efforts.
Washington has also acknowledged participating in coordinated missions with Ecuador in areas near the Colombian border, another region heavily affected by cartel activity and cocaine production.
The possibility of similar operations extending into other Latin American countries has generated mixed reactions throughout the region. Some governments have welcomed increased US assistance, while others have expressed concern about sovereignty, constitutional restrictions, and the potential consequences of foreign military involvement.
For Guatemala, those concerns appear particularly significant. The country’s legal framework places strict limits on the presence and operational role of foreign military forces, reflecting historical sensitivities regarding national sovereignty and external intervention.
Acting Pentagon spokesperson Joel Valdez declined to comment on potential future operations involving Guatemala, telling AFP that the Defense Department “won’t speculate on future operations” and does not discuss operational security matters.
Despite rejecting direct military intervention, Guatemala remains committed to deepening security cooperation with Washington. Arévalo has repeatedly emphasized that transnational organized crime requires international collaboration, especially given the cross-border nature of narcotics trafficking networks.
Security analysts note that intelligence sharing, training assistance, and logistical support can significantly enhance the capabilities of local law enforcement and military units without requiring foreign troops to operate on the ground.
As regional governments continue grappling with powerful criminal organizations, the balance between international cooperation and national sovereignty is likely to remain a central issue.
For now, Guatemala’s position appears clear: while the country welcomes US support in its fight against cartels and gangs, any military action against those groups will remain under Guatemalan command and carried out exclusively by Guatemalan forces.
Arévalo’s comments signal an effort to maintain close security ties with Washington while reassuring domestic audiences that constitutional limits and national sovereignty will not be compromised, even as pressure mounts across the region to confront increasingly powerful criminal networks.
