Guatemala’s political and civic landscape is experiencing a whirlwind of activity, with President Bernardo Arévalo at the center of several pivotal developments. As the country enters the latter half of 2025, issues ranging from drug trafficking crackdowns and infrastructure woes to religious observances and international cooperation are converging, revealing both the challenges and ambitions of Arévalo’s administration.
On August 18, 2025, President Arévalo addressed the nation in his regular press conference, “La Ronda,” tackling a series of pressing topics that have dominated headlines. Chief among them was his response to recent statements by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. According to AGN, Bondi had claimed on Fox News that former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro financed an air bridge for drug trafficking over Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Arévalo was quick to clarify that these accusations did not pertain to his current government. “About the statements from the attorney general, we clarified that this does not refer to this government, evidently,” he asserted, drawing a clear line between his administration and those of the past.
The president emphasized that previous Guatemalan governments had allowed numerous illegal air traffic routes, but under his leadership, these have been reduced to zero. “From the 73 illegal aircraft that landed annually in previous governments, only one case has been recorded during our administration,” Arévalo stated, highlighting a dramatic shift in enforcement. He went on to note that, in the last 18 months, only one illegal drug trafficking aircraft had landed in Guatemala, and it was immediately identified by authorities. This, he suggested, was evidence of the government’s heightened vigilance and commitment to combatting organized crime.
Backing up his claims, Arévalo pointed to recent U.S. Department of State and FBI reports that recognize Guatemala’s effective fight against drug trafficking. “As you know, the reports from the Department of State and the FBI rate Guatemala as effective in the fight against drug trafficking,” he said, underscoring the international recognition his administration has received. Just days before, on August 11, authorities intercepted two boats in the Pacific Ocean carrying 1,783 kilograms of possible cocaine, valued at approximately Q183,188,540.25, hidden in 50 bags. This successful operation, according to officials, was yet another blow against the narcotics trade.
While Arévalo highlighted these successes, he also acknowledged that the U.S. Attorney General’s comments were rooted in a context of longstanding problems within Guatemala’s governance and security sectors—problems his administration is determined to address. “She was referring to existing problems of cooptation in various areas of governance and security, which our administration is actively fighting,” he explained.
But the president’s agenda was not limited to security issues. In the same press conference, he weighed in on the recent approval by Congress of initiative 6607, which establishes the first Saturday of August as the National Day of the Bible. The initiative, passed with urgency and supported by 110 deputies—including Allan Rodríguez from the Vamos party—sparked debate about the role of religion in the public sphere. Arévalo stated he would not veto the agreement but was adamant that the declaration must respect the secular nature of the state. “For the believer, it is not necessary to have a Bible Day,” he remarked, emphasizing his commitment to balancing symbolic recognition of faith with institutional neutrality.
He clarified that the decree is not judicial in nature and does not obligate public institutions; rather, it allows people of faith to celebrate voluntarily, without interfering with legal or judicial activities. Arévalo also pointed out that any commemorative day could be declared for various religious beliefs, provided the secularism of the state is respected. “If someone wishes to declare a commemorative day, for example, Bible Day, it can be done in Congress. Likewise, one could declare Quran Day, Book of Mormon Day, or a day for any other religious text or practice,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Guatemala’s ongoing struggle with deteriorating infrastructure was thrust into the spotlight after a long holiday weekend exposed the poor condition of key national highways. During “La Ronda,” Arévalo responded to pointed questions about the contrast between ambitious plans—such as joining the Tren Maya project—and the reality of roads so damaged that travel times between Escuintla and Guatemala City stretched to seven hours. The president acknowledged the severity of the problem and admitted, “The country is suffering from decades of neglect around this issue.”
He assured the public that his administration is working to address these challenges, despite corruption mechanisms within the Ministry of Communications that have hindered progress. “All COVIAL (Unit for Road Conservation) events are assigned, so improvements will start to be seen in the coming months,” Arévalo said. He revealed that the road from La Avellana to Taxisco is scheduled for repair in the second half of 2025, with work beginning before December in two phases. Defending the pursuit of large-scale infrastructure projects like Tren Maya, he argued, “It’s precisely because we don’t dare to think in the medium and long term that we end up with situations like the roads we have now.”
Arévalo lamented that necessary projects such as port expansions, airport maintenance, and investment in mass transit for Guatemala City should have started decades ago. However, he remained optimistic that the recent approval of the Strategic Infrastructure Law by Congress and the use of government-to-government mechanisms will accelerate the development of these vital projects. “Even if we won’t be cutting ribbons ourselves in two years for each of these, if we don’t start taking concrete steps now, we’ll end up facing the same problems you’re describing,” he said, insisting on the need for forward-thinking infrastructure policy.
Amid these domestic challenges, Guatemala is also fostering international partnerships. On August 18, President Arévalo welcomed former Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, representing the Club of Madrid, for discussions focused on strengthening democracy, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. The Club of Madrid, as reported by multiple outlets, is an influential organization of former democratically elected leaders dedicated to promoting inclusive governance worldwide. “I am very honored to participate in this meeting, which is part of President Arévalo’s determined process to consolidate and deepen Guatemalan democracy, with the support of the Club of Madrid,” Alvarado said.
Their agenda included meetings with key Guatemalan officials to explore cooperation on sustainability and citizen security, as well as a session with the Esquipulas Foundation led by former President Vinicio Cerezo. Alvarado was also slated to speak at UN Women activities, sharing Costa Rica’s experience in creating comprehensive legislation against political violence toward women. These exchanges come at a critical time for Guatemala, as Arévalo’s administration, in office since January 2024, seeks to consolidate democratic institutions following a tense transition period marked by political strife and attempts to delegitimize electoral outcomes.
As Guatemala navigates these complex issues, the public awaits tangible improvements in daily life—whether in safer streets, better roads, or a more inclusive society. Arévalo’s government, for its part, is betting that a blend of immediate action and long-term vision will help the country break free from the cycles of crisis that have long defined its political and civic life.