Guatemala Partners with US to Launch Military Strike Against Drug Cartels

The Guatemalan government has formally agreed to military cooperation with the US to conduct joint operations against drug trafficking networks in the country. This marks a significant escalation in former US President Donald Trump’s hardline stance against drug cartels in Latin America. Reports from The New York Times on Thursday (28 May 2026) state that President Bernardo Arevalo reached the agreement following a telephone conversation with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth last week. The presidential office confirmed that Guatemala sent a formal letter to Hegseth, requesting cooperation in operations led by Guatemalan security forces against drug trafficking organisations. In addition to air or ground strikes, both officials agreed on further military measures targeting drug cartels, although specific operational details remain undisclosed. Since September last year, the Trump administration has initiated strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. Trump has stated that the US is currently ‘at war’ with what he calls ‘narco-terrorists’. However, the policy has faced controversy, with critics questioning its legality due to the lack of definitive evidence that targeted vessels are involved in drug trafficking. In March 2026, Trump launched a cartel eradication alliance involving 17 nations, including close US allies such as Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Prior to the Guatemala agreement, the US had collaborated with Ecuadorian forces to target cocaine smugglers. Additionally, the FBI established a branch office in Ecuador to investigate organised crime, money laundering, and corruption involving local police. Cooperation with Guatemala aims to disrupt international drug Distribution chains, which have fuelled regional violence and money laundering in Central America.