Guatemala president denies deal with US on striking suspected drug groups

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo on Thursday denied that his country has agreed to carry out joint anti-drug trafficking strikes with the U.S. military on Guatemalan soil, but he confirmed a collaboration to “intensify” the Central America country’s fight against drug trafficking. 

“There is no agreement. There is a request and the request falls within the existing agreements between both countries,” Arévalo said at a news conference.

The comments follow a report from The New York Times that Arévalo agreed to airstrikes and other military action within his country’s territory in a call with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The outlet was told operations could start as early as next month. 

Arévalo’s office confirmed to the Times that he had formally requested “cooperation in operations led by Guatemalan security forces against drug trafficking organizations” in a letter to Hegseth, and........

© The Hill