Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo agreed to joint military actions with the United States against drug trafficking groups within Guatemalan territory during a meeting between Arevalo and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on May 19, The New York Times reported on May 28. The agreement, which has not yet been publicly announced, includes airstrikes and other military actions.

Guatemala's decision to allow U.S. military forces to operate and participate in counter-crime activities follows a similar deal the United States and Ecuador reached earlier in 2026. Mexico, Colombia and Brazil did not join the Shield of the Americas summit, and though Guatemala did not initially attend, it later joined the alliance.