The Political Arm of Foreign Interference

Continental Strategy, a lobbying firm based in Washington D.C., has become one of the most powerful tools of foreign ideological infiltration in Guatemala. The company, where Manuel Espina — former Guatemalan ambassador to the U.S. under Jimmy Morales — plays a key role, has come under fire for acting as a middleman between U.S. interests and the regime of Bernardo Arévalo.

A $300 Million Lobby: Buying Influence in the U.S.

Sources close to the U.S. Congress and federal lobbying records reveal that Continental Strategy facilitated a network of contacts that enabled up to $300 million in influence operations on behalf of Arévalo. Among those allegedly lobbied is Senator Marco Rubio, who — despite his conservative rhetoric — welcomed Arévalo during his Washington tour, indirectly legitimizing his presidency.

Manuel Espina: The Shadow Link Between Elites and Globalism

Espina is publicly portrayed as a retired diplomat, but behind the scenes, he operates as the chief liaison between foreign NGOs, progressive foundations, and business elites aligned with the Open Society agenda. Through his role at Continental Strategy, he has channeled interests contrary to Guatemala’s sovereignty under the guise of “cooperation,” even lobbying U.S. Congress to condition aid on internal political changes.

A Direct Threat to Institutional Integrity

This strategy of foreign penetration through lobbying isn’t new — but it has never before received such a brazen and obscene level of funding. A $300 million investment isn’t made on a whim; it’s made to seize control of key decisions, from the Attorney General’s Office to the Constitutional Court. The goal is crystal clear: dismantle the only institution still defending the rule of law — the Public Prosecutor’s Office led by Consuelo Porras.