Letter to Secretary Pompeo - Engel Demands Answers on U.S. Military Vehicles in Guatemala

Letter

Dear Mr. Secretary:

This is to follow up on a letter dated October 9th regarding an August 31st incident in which elements of the Guatemalan government misused seven U.S.-donated military-style J8 jeeps, armed with weapons, to attempt to intimidate U.S. Embassy and United Nations personnel. We continue to urge the Department to take effective steps to ensure that this situation be rectified.

In that regard, we were disturbed to learn that on November 2nd, the United States transferred the ownership titles of 38 additional J8 jeeps to Guatemala. It is difficult to understand how such a transfer would be made without a resolution of the threatening action by the Guatemalan government against U.S. personnel on August 31st. Given the inadequate response by the Department to this situation, we request advance consultation by the Department with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on all defense transfers to Guatemala before they are finalized regardless of the dollar amount.

We understand that on August 2nd, the 38 additional J8 jeeps arrived in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. They cleared customs on October 4th and were moved to Guatemala City on October 9th. A transfer agreement was signed on October 11th, and the titles were transferred on November 2nd -- over two months after the August 31st incident. The U.S. government should have suspended the title transfer until there is a satisfactory diplomatic resolution of the August 31st incident. We request a full explanation of why the title transfer was made.

The threatening action by the Guatemalan government on August 31st requires a robust response by the United States. Until there is an acceptable resolution of this issue, we ask that you arrange for consultation with the Committee on all defense transfers to Guatemala before they occur.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,