United States resumes arms transfers to Guatemala after nearly 50 years

On Monday, September 22, 2026, the United States delivered military equipment to Guatemala, marking the first such transfer in nearly 50 years. This event effectively ends the long-standing arms embargo imposed on the Central American nation due to historical human rights violations. President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed that the Guatemalan armed forces are receiving equipment valued at approximately $5 million, which includes rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, and night-vision gear.

The government stated that this military aid is intended to bolster efforts against drug cartels and enhance civilian protection. The previous suspension of arms sales was initiated in 1977 during a brutal civil war that lasted from 1960 to 1996. That conflict resulted in the deaths of at least 200,000 people, mostly indigenous civilians, and was characterized by widespread atrocities involving state security forces and paramilitary groups.