Guatemala Approves Joint U.S. Strikes on Drug Gangs, With Operations Starting Next Month
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 28
Guatemala Approves Joint U.S. Strikes on Drug Gangs, With Operations Starting Next Month
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 28
Guatemala agreed to let U.S. forces join airstrikes and other military operations against drug trafficking groups on its territory, with missions expected to begin as early as next month.
A May 19 call between President Bernardo Arévalo and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth finalized the terms, and Guatemala later formally requested U.S. cooperation in operations led by its own security forces.
The deal would make Guatemala the second Latin American country to permit such joint action after Ecuador, where U.S. forces are already advising and assisting raids and airstrikes on suspected gangs.
Honduras is the next country the Pentagon plans to press, as the Trump administration seeks to widen a regional military footprint and increase pressure on Mexico, whose president has rejected U.S. boots on the ground and drone strikes.
Will U.S. military intervention stabilize Guatemala, or will it ignite a wider conflict with powerful regional cartels?
As U.S. military alliances encircle Mexico, is a direct confrontation over anti-cartel strategy now inevitable?
With claims of 'extrajudicial killings' already surfacing, can this military campaign succeed without sacrificing human rights?
Direct U.S. Military Involvement in Guatemala: Escalating the 2026 War on Drug Cartels and Its Regional Fallout
Overview
On May 28, 2026, Guatemala reached an agreement to allow direct U.S. military involvement within its borders, marking a major shift in regional security strategies. This move makes Guatemala the second country in the region, after Ecuador, to authorize joint military operations with the U.S. targeting criminal groups. The agreement aims to combat the growing power and violence of drug gangs by enabling direct support and collaboration to disrupt these organizations. Drawing from the Ecuador model, where U.S. forces have assisted in raids and airstrikes, the Guatemala deal signals a new, more aggressive approach to tackling organized crime in Central America.