Central America
El Salvador and Qatar enhance friendship and cooperation
September 14 |
The governments of El Salvador and Qatar signed yesterday important agreements on security, health and agriculture, which further strengthen bilateral relations and the strategic alliance and cooperation between the two nations.
These mutual cooperation agreements were signed after a working meeting held at the Presidential House between the President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele, and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in the framework of an official visit of the Qatari Sheikh to the country.
“We discussed relations with El Salvador and mainly talked about different projects and ideas in common,” said Al Thani after the bilateral meeting.
The agreements and arrangements reached will strengthen cooperation in the fields of security, health and agriculture.
The Qatari sheikh also congratulated Bukele for the achievements he has had during his administration that have led El Salvador to position itself in the concert of nations.
“I want to thank and congratulate everything he has done in his country, especially on the issue of security. I think the whole world recognizes this,” he said.
Al Thani arrived in El Salvador on Tuesday afternoon in response to Bukele’s invitation to him in 2019, when he went to the State of Qatar on an official mission.
The emir sent a message upon his return: “We aspire to more bilateral cooperation and we both have compatible visions about ways to take advantage of the opportunities and the great potential that our countries have. I thank you for the hospitality with which you received me and the delegation that accompanied me”.
Prior to the bilateral meeting, the Salvadoran government formulated proposals for investment projects through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government institutions. The agreements were signed by Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill and the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Al-Khulaifi.
The visit of His Royal Highness to El Salvador “will allow to deepen the proposals for joint work in sectors such as passenger and cargo transportation, ports and airports, and mass passenger transportation, among others”, informed the Salvadoran Government.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira visited Qatar a few months ago to begin exploring the possibilities of mutual support and also to strengthen ties of friendship.
With the visit of the Qatari sheikh, the economic and commercial ties between the Arab nation and El Salvador are also strengthened – within the framework of the agreements signed – by means of approaches between the private sectors of both countries.
Since his arrival to the Executive, President Bukele began to work for a new foreign policy that would allow El Salvador to have new strategic partners for the development and welfare of its inhabitants.
El Salvador established diplomatic relations with Qatar in 2003, and the State visit of Emir Al Thani addressed “issues of cooperation and common interest to further strengthen bilateral relations”.
The Embassy of the State of Qatar in El Salvador praised the visit of His Royal Highness: “The relations between the two countries are deep and developed. The visit of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar will contribute to expand relations towards broader horizons”.
Food trade and investment have been explored with Qatari partners. The Pacific Train and Pacific Airport have been of interest to the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Qatar Airways has also expressed interest in establishing a cargo and passenger route.
The Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, left the country yesterday afternoon, after finishing his official visit that began last Tuesday. He was seen off at the San Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport of El Salvador by Vice President Felix Ulloa.
Central America
Arévalo accuses Porras and judge of undermining democracy in Guatemala
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo denounced a new attempt at a “coup” orchestrated by the Attorney General’s Office. He also requested an extraordinary session at the Organization of American States (OAS) to address the country’s ongoing political crisis.
The president has been at odds with Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for being “corrupt” and “anti-democratic.” Since 2023, Arévalo has accused Porras of launching investigations against his party, Semilla, and the 2023 elections as part of a scheme to prevent his inauguration in January 2024.
From the presidential office, Arévalo has said he continues to “resist” the “coup plotters,” but tensions escalated last Friday when Judge Fredy Orellana, at the request of the Attorney General’s Office, ordered the electoral court to annul the Semilla party’s promoter group. Arévalo interpreted this as an attempt to revoke the positions won by the party.
“Orellana, a hitman who distorts the law in service of Consuelo Porras, is attempting to force […] the unconstitutional removal of a mayor, 23 elected deputies […], the vice president, and the president of the country,” Arévalo said in a televised address on Sunday.
“We call on the international community not to turn a blind eye to the coup being attempted in Guatemala,” he added, speaking alongside his cabinet and congressional members at the National Palace in Guatemala City.
Arévalo requested that the Organization of American States hold an extraordinary session to present “the serious threats” to the Guatemalan Constitution and democracy perpetrated by Porras and Orellana.
Yesterday, Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez reaffirmed the president’s statements, emphasizing the need “to go and expose the situation” Guatemala has been facing since last week due to the actions of the Attorney General’s Office.
Central America
New dismembered bodies found in San Juan river days after mass killing in Palencia
On the morning of Monday, October 27, Guatemala’s Volunteer Firefighters confirmed the discovery of two bodies and two human heads inside plastic bags in the San Juan River, located in the Zacualpía village at kilometer 21 of the Atlantic Highway, in the jurisdiction of Palencia.
The remains were found by personnel from Companies 85, 50, and Central, who responded after receiving a report about suspicious bags floating in the water. The gruesome discovery was made just a few meters from the site where eight tortured bodies were found under the San Juan Bridge on Friday, October 24.
Local authorities do not rule out a connection between both incidents and suspect they may be tied to the same criminal organization. Investigators from the Public Ministry and the National Civil Police arrived at the scene to gather evidence and transfer the remains to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif).
According to data from the National Economic Research Center (CIEN), Guatemala recorded 2,154 homicides between January and August 2025, an increase compared to the 1,816 reported during the same period in 2024.
Central America
Four guatemalan soldiers arrested for stealing weapons from Northern Air Command
Four soldiers were arrested in connection with the theft of weapons from the Northern Air Command of the Ministry of Defense in Petén, Guatemala, following operations conducted by the Public Ministry (Prosecutor’s Office).
“During the operations, criminal scenes were processed, analyzed, and documented photographically, possible escape routes were identified, surveillance cameras were located, and potential witnesses were interviewed,” the Prosecutor’s Office explained in a social media post.
The detained soldiers were identified as Ludwin Jónathan Cardona Baltazar, charged with illicit association, dereliction of duty, and aggravated theft; and Josué Israel Pérez Jerónimo, Alain Omar Marroquín Soch, and Carlos Ernesto Ibarra Corrales, charged with dereliction of duty, according to Guatemala’s Prensa Libre.
The military personnel reportedly stole 55 rifles, 14,420 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, 92 magazines of 35 rounds each, 19 magazines of 20 rounds each, and three grenade launchers, “which were allegedly moved from the arms warehouse to the outside for illicit sale.”
The Ministry of Defense stated that it will keep its internal control mechanisms active to prevent similar incidents.
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