Guatemala calls Türkiye strategic partner in Latin America

Guatemala views Türkiye as a strategic partner across Latin America, with bilateral relations continuing to strengthen significantly, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Monica Renata Bolanos Perez. Speaking Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Perez emphasized that the mutual opening of embassies in Ankara and Guatemala City has been instrumental in deepening commercial links and cooperation in priority sectors. The three-day forum, running from April 17 to 19, has gathered global leaders under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties” to address international challenges.

Support for regional ceasefires

Perez also voiced Guatemala’s support for recent ceasefire efforts in both Iran and Lebanon, calling for lasting solutions. “For Guatemala, we welcome the ceasefire not only in Iran but also in Lebanon. We as a small country in Latin America, we would like this ceasefire to be permanent and to go back to the table of negotiations and dialogue,” she said. Her remarks come amid ongoing hostilities: the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliatory strikes from Tehran and Hezbollah. In response, Israeli operations against Hezbollah have killed over 2,000 people and displaced one million in the past six weeks.

Truce timelines and Türkiye’s diplomatic role

A two-week Pakistan-mediated truce between the US and Iran is set to expire on April 22. Separately, a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect following US-mediated talks in Washington, DC, as announced by President Trump on Thursday. For Türkiye, which maintains active diplomatic channels with both Latin American and Middle Eastern nations, Guatemala’s endorsement underscores Ankara’s growing soft power beyond its immediate region. The Antalya Diplomacy Forum has provided a platform for such cross-regional alignments, reinforcing Türkiye’s position as a bridge between continents.