Guatemala’s president denies report of US deal on anti-drug trafficking strikes
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo denied reports of an agreement with the United States to conduct joint anti-drug trafficking operations on Guatemalan soil. The denial follows a New York Times report suggesting such a deal. Arévalo stated that any collaboration falls within existing agreements and involves maritime interdictions with U.S. support for training and equipment, not on-the-ground strikes. He emphasized that only Guatemala's Congress can authorize operations involving soldiers on its territory, and the government has no plans to request such cooperation. The Pentagon acknowledged working with regional partners to combat drug trafficking but declined to comment on specific operations. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Latin American governments regarding sovereignty and bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking.