Guatemala is stepping up its military presence at the Mexican border in response to escalating cartel violence. President Bernardo Arévalo says the new operation, dubbed "Ring of Fire," is meant to protect Guatemalans from the growing threat of transnational crime.
Violence has been spilling over from southern Mexico's Chiapas state, where the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have been fighting for control. Thousands of people have already fled across the border, adding to Guatemala's security concerns.
Defense Minister Henry Sáenz didn't say exactly how many troops were being sent but confirmed that forces are now in place. He mentioned that military operations will take place by air, land, and sea, with the goal of sealing off the border and cracking down on organized crime. The focus is on three key regions—San Marcos, Huehuetenango, and Petén—where cartel activity has been particularly bad.
Sáenz also said multiple brigades and command units have been mobilized to keep the situation under control. "Our priority is protecting the communities along the border," he explained.
This move comes right after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Guatemala, where he met with officials to discuss security and migration. Rubio has accused Mexican cartels of using Guatemala as a source for fentanyl precursors, smuggling them into Mexico before the drugs make their way into the U.S.
Meanwhile, concerns about cartel influence in Chiapas continue to grow. Subcomandante Marcos, a historic figure in the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), claims that criminal groups have taken control of large parts of the region. "The government is just letting it happen," he said.
President Arévalo, who took office in January 2024 after campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, has made security a central focus of his administration.
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