Kaine & Lee Urge Trump Administration to Support Guatemala’s Democratic Institutions Amid Key Elections & Swearings In

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Mike Lee (R-UT), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to encourage the Trump Administration to support free, transparent, and credible upcoming elections in Guatemala. The senators' letter comes during a critical year for Guatemala's democratic institutions, when the makeup of the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General's Office, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the Comptroller General, and the Rector of the University of San Carlos will be decided.

"Given Guatemala's intrinsic connection to several U.S. national security priorities, we urge the constructive and consistent engagement of the U.S. Department of State, as well as the productive involvement and accompaniment of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, to support and strengthen democratic institutions during this critical period," the senators wrote.

The senators went on to underscore concerns that organized criminal groups in Guatemala could continue to attempt to destabilize public institutions and terrorize the public, following coordinated gang-led attacks and prison riots in January that resulted in the death of ten police officers and the injury of several others.

"The strength of Guatemala's democratic system depends on an independent judiciary and transparent processes for selecting its officials. By supporting Guatemala's democratic governance, the United States advances and protects its own interests in Central America by keeping friendly neighbors," they continued. "As such, we reiterate the need for sustained engagement with Guatemalan officials, business leaders, and civil society stakeholders in support of transparency and freedom from criminalization and undue interference."

The senators' letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Rubio:

We write to express our support for Guatemala's historic year of elections and to encourage the Department of State to support elections that are free, transparent, and credible.

2026 is a critical year for Guatemala's democratic institutions. The makeup of the Constitutional Court, the Attorney General's Office, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the Comptroller General, and the Rector of the University of San Carlos will be decided between February and August 2026. Most of these positions are selected by nominating commissions composed of representatives from Guatemala's Bar Association, universities, and other sectoral delegates, who submit shortlists to the president or the Congress. Others are directly appointed by the president or the Congress. Given Guatemala's intrinsic connection to several U.S. national security priorities, we urge the constructive and consistent engagement of the U.S. Department of State, as well as the productive involvement and accompaniment of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, to support and strengthen democratic institutions during this critical period.

The selection process offers a chance to bolster Guatemalan institutions and deepen the U.S.-Guatemala relationship, even as Guatemalans combat criminal actors. On January 17, coordinated gang-led attacks and prison riots that resulted in the death of ten police officers and the injury of several others underscore the extent to which organized crime aims to destabilize Guatemala's public institutions and terrorize the public.

The strength of Guatemala's democratic system depends on an independent judiciary and transparent processes for selecting its officials. By supporting Guatemala's democratic governance, the United States advances and protects its own interests in Central America by keeping friendly neighbors. As such, we reiterate the need for sustained engagement with Guatemalan officials, business leaders, and civil society stakeholders in support of transparency and freedom from criminalization and undue interference.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss further with you and other officials how the Department can support Guatemala's efforts to promote free governance and the rule of law.

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