Guatemala City, Guatemala - The US and Guatemala on Tuesday announced a new alliance to jointly combat organized crime, drug cartels, and so-called "narco politicians" through the courts.
The agreement was signed during a visit to the violence-plagued central American country by nine prosecutors from different US federal districts, as well as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Skaret.
The conglomeration met with President Bernardo Arevalo, who has made the fight against corruption a key tenet of his mandate since he entered office in January 2024, as well as various senior security and justice officials.
Jorgan Andrews, Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Guatemala City, told a press conference that the two countries would "prosecute drug traffickers, their allies, and those who provide them protection, including narco-politicians."
Guatemalan politics is under close US scrutiny over allegations of links between senior officials and business people with criminal groups and drug traffickers.
In August, the US embassy warned that Washington would show "zero tolerance" towards "drug traffickers and those who provide them with political cover" ahead of elections next year.
Andrews said that the alliance with Arevalo's government aimed to curb the flow of narcotics into the US and strengthen Guatemala's ability to investigate cases that will be tried in US courts.
Guatemalan Attorney General Gabriel García Luna called the agreement "historic." His predecessor, Consuelo Porras, was sanctioned by the US for alleged corruption and antidemocratic practices.
"Criminals see borders as an opportunity for illicit activities, while prosecutors look beyond those same borders and see partners in this fight," Skaret said in a statement shared by the US Embassy in Guatemala City.
"That's why we are working with our law enforcement partners in Guatemala to strengthen cooperation against terrorist organizations and in migrant smuggling cases, secure more extraditions of US fugitives, and bring criminals to justice."