Guatemala has given the green light for collaborative military operations with the United States on Guatemalan soil to combat drug trafficking organizations, according to a Thursday report from the New York Times citing three sources with knowledge of the discussions.
President Bernardo Arevalo of Guatemala approved airstrikes and additional military actions during a phone conversation with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week, with operations potentially beginning as soon as next month, the publication reported.
The U.S. Defense Department also plans to push Honduras to approve similar joint military actions, the report indicated, noting that the Trump administration is focusing on these two nations as a way to pressure Mexico into accepting collaborative counter-narcotics operations.
The Pentagon declined to speculate about upcoming operations or address operational security matters.
“Under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership, the Department will continue working with trusted partners to defend the Homeland and secure the Western Hemisphere,” Pentagon spokesperson Joel Valdez stated in an email.
According to the Times reporting, the White House’s overarching approach involves establishing American military presence throughout Latin America to create leverage with Mexico.
The White House responded that the “Administration continues to work to carry out the president’s agenda.”
Neither the Guatemalan nor Honduran embassies in the United States immediately provided responses to comment requests, and the Guatemalan government was not immediately available for contact.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has consistently stated that while she supports intelligence sharing and security collaboration, she will not permit U.S. personnel or military forces to conduct operations within Mexican borders.
U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently advocated for expanded use of American military power against Mexican cartels and has warned that the United States might act independently if Washington believes Mexico’s efforts are insufficient.
