Guatemala has agreed to joint strikes with the US military to target drug trafficking groups, according to a New York Times report. President Bernardo Arevalo agreed to airstrikes and military action in a call with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with operations potentially starting next month.
The US aims to pressure Mexico into accepting joint counter-drug operations, with the Pentagon working with trusted partners to defend the Homeland and secure the Western Hemisphere.
The White House's broader strategy is to normalize the American military presence across Latin America, gaining leverage over Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has maintained she welcomes intelligence-sharing and security cooperation, but will not accept US agents or forces participating in operations on Mexican territory.
