Guatemala denies agreeing to US strikes against drug traffickers

President Bernardo Arevalo’s government says it requested security cooperation but did not approve US attacks.The Guatemalan government has denied reports that it agreed to allow the United States to carry out strikes against drug traffickers in the Central American country, while confirming that it has sought security cooperation with Washington.“There is no agreement authorising foreign military operations by any country within national territory,” the government of President Bernardo Arevalo said in a statement on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US strike on alleged drug boat in Pacific kills onelist 2 of 3Italy seizes $232m in Mafia assets tied to Cosa Nostralist 3 of 3At least 16 people killed in two attacks in northern Hondurasend of listThe denial appears to be in response to a New York Times report published earlier in the day that cited two unidentified sources as saying that Arevalo had agreed to US military action in his country.The Guatemalan statement was accompanied by a note from a letter by the country’s defence minister, Henry Saenz, to his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, dated May 28.The note says that Guatemala “desires to lead, with US assistance, active military operations” against drug groups identified as “designated terrorist organisations” (DTOs) by Washington.“In accordance with existing bilateral agreements and arrangements, such combined Guatemala-led operations would further bilateral interests in defeating DTOs and advancing regional and hemispheric security,” Saenz wrote.But the Guatemalan government stressed that the call for assistance from Washington was not an invitation for US attacks in the country.“This request falls within the framework of existing bilateral agreements on this matter and strictly adheres to the provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws regarding cooperation agreements on civil or military security,” it said.