Guatemalan president seeks balance in U.S. ties amid global disorder

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo on Thursday said his country is committed to maintaining a “good” and strategic relationship with the United States while upholding international law and supporting peaceful resolution of disputes , as the global order faces increasing uncertainty.

In an interview with The Associated Press , Arévalo referred to recent U.S. actions involving Venezuela and said Guatemala, too, carries the legacy of foreign intervention . “The world in general is experiencing a phase of disorder , in the sense that the norms of the old order are breaking,” he said, adding that the challenge lies in rebuilding global stability .

Located at the northern edge of Central America , Guatemala serves as a geographic bridge between North America and the rest of the region . Analysts note that its political relevance stems more from this strategic location than from natural resource wealth. While the country has limited deposits of nickel, gold and silver , Guatemala is not considered mineral-rich , with its economy relying primarily on agriculture, remittances and services .

Arévalo was born in Uruguay , where his father, former president Juan José Arévalo , lived in exile after a CIA-backed coup in 1954 overthrew Guatemalan leader Jacobo Árbenz . The overthrow ushered in decades of military dictatorships and civil war , leaving a lasting imprint on the country’s political institutions.

Before assuming office two years ago, Arévalo worked in international dispute resolution , experience that shapes his current diplomatic posture. Like neighboring Mexico , Guatemala is cooperating closely with the United States on shared priorities such as combating drug trafficking and controlling migration , while seeking to preserve national sovereignty amid renewed talk of U.S. interventions.

“We have right now a level of relations so strong and strategic that we don’t even consider that scenario,” Arévalo said, dismissing concerns of possible intervention.

The relationship was publicly endorsed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to Guatemala last year. According to Arévalo, cooperation on drug enforcement and immigration helped Guatemala secure tariff relief from Washington, making it one of the few countries to reach such an understanding.

“We don’t have to hold back or limit our actions against drug traffickers ,” the president said. “We don’t have a historic relationship with cartels or any arrangement with them.”

Arévalo also said deportations of Guatemalans from the United States have not risen compared to previous administrations. He declined to comment on the broader U.S. immigration crackdown , calling it an internal matter for Washington.

On the domestic front, the president is focused on the upcoming selection of Constitutional Court justices and the appointment of the next attorney general , processes he described as critical to Guatemala’s democratic future .

Current Attorney General Consuelo Porras , who has pursued investigations against Arévalo’s party since before his election, has been accused by international observers of carrying out politically motivated prosecutions . The United States has sanctioned Porras for allegedly undermining democracy by blocking anti-corruption cases. She declined Arévalo’s request to step down upon his inauguration.

With just over four months remaining in her term , Arévalo warned of the stakes ahead. “The democratic development of the country is on the line ,” he said, referring to the future of Guatemala’s institutions and rule of law .