Since the United States first hosted ambassadors from Guatemala in 1824, the relationship between the two nations has been mainly cordial, although with some marked tensions.
The year 2005 marked an upswing in the countries’ relationship due to reforms after years of political unrest and civil war in Guatemala.
Also the United States has attempted to maintain good relationships with its Latin American neighbors, including Guatemala, because of geographical proximity.
As Roger F. Noriega, former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, explained in 2004, “[W]hat happens in the Western Hemisphere is important to (U.S. citizens), to our country, to our economic and political well-being.”
During Guatemala’s civil war years, 1960–1996 (see story, page 9), relations between the two countries were strained. In June 1990, American civilian Michael Devine was murdered at his farm in Guatemala.
When the U.S. Embassy concluded Devine was murdered by members of the Guatemalan military, the United States cut off military aid to Guatemala.
While it is still uncertain why Devine was killed, Alexander F. Watson, assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs 1993–1996, testified in 1995, “We believe that senior officials of the Guatemalan Army likely ordered the detention and interrogation of Michael Devine, possibly in connection with a case of missing army rifles. We have absolutely no reason to believe that Devine was engaged in any illegal or even improper activity.”
Because of what Watson described as “sheer persistence” on the part of Devine’s wife and the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, a military court convicted five enlisted men for the murder in 1992. An officer was also convicted but, in the words of Watson, “was allowed to escape” custody the day of his conviction.
Peace finally came to Guatemala in 1996. In continuing the peace process, Guatemala’s current president — Oscar Berger, who was elected in 2003 — has cut the size of the military by about half and closed and reassigned military bases.
In 2005, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced restoration of military aid to the country.
The United States also provided $16 million to Guatemala as of December 2005 for relief and recovery efforts following Hurricane Stan, which devastated parts of Guatemala in October of that year, according to a State Department briefing.
Relations with the United States have now improved to the point that they are partners in trade.
The United States and Guatemala, along with other Central American nations, negotiated the Central American Free Trade Agreement-Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR). President George W. Bush signed CAFTA-DR into law in August 2005.
It is expected to remove barriers to trade between the United States and its southern neighbors once all member governments have approved it.
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