The Principle of Equality in the International System

The international system operates on the principle of equality among states—all countries are considered equal, regardless of their economic or political status. However, in practice, this rarely holds true.

Countries with greater economic, military, or democratic development often hold more influence over international decision-making processes. And why wouldn’t they? In many cases, these nations provide humanitarian and economic aid as part of their cooperation strategies.

Given that, it seems reasonable for donor countries to expect certain standards to be followed. But problems arise when those standards are no longer based on shared state interests, but rather on ideological agendas or even personal motives.

The U.S.-Guatemala Relationship Under the Biden Administration

A clear example of this imbalance is the relationship between the United States of America and Guatemala during President Joe Biden’s administration.

In Guatemala, the executive branch does not control the judiciary, making the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público) independent—a rarity in many Latin American countries.

The Attorney General of Guatemala, María Consuelo Porras, acted as a key barrier against the ideological and personal interference of Biden administration officials in Guatemala’s decision-making processes.

However, this stance came at a high political cost. The Biden administration damaged her reputation, both within Guatemala and on the international stage, accusing her of corruption, despite there being no legal proceedings against her.

Critics claim she’s on the Engel List and that her U.S. visa was revoked. Still, cooperation between U.S. government agencies and the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office continues, which suggests there are mutual interests and shared values—not related to corruption—that remain intact.

Diplomatic Pressure and Congressional Concerns

María Consuelo Porras is not the only figure caught in this political tension. In the past, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken allegedly threatened to revoke visas of Guatemalan congressional members if they did not act against Attorney General Porras. The goal was to pressure the Public Prosecutor’s Office to halt investigations involving crimes against minors, which were reportedly linked to U.S. officials and financial networks.

Though these allegations remain largely unknown to the public, on May 7, 2024, a group of Republican senators from the U.S. sent a formal letter accusing Antony Blinken and agencies like USAID of interfering in the sovereignty of countries like Guatemala through intimidation and political coercion.

A Shift in the U.S. Political Narrative

Although the Biden administration has ended, the consequences of its foreign policy are still being felt in Guatemala. Fortunately, the issue is now gaining attention in U.S. political discourse.

Leaders such as Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, have spoken out against the ideologically driven attacks by the Biden administration on figures like María Consuelo Porras. Salazar argues that these individuals have worked toward common interests in good faith, yet have been politically targeted due to ideological bias.