U.S. Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) is requesting further oversight regarding the U.S. Department of Defense’s recent transfer of military equipment to the Guatemalan government.
Torres has forwarded correspondence to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concerning the matter following a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report determining the Guatemalan government used military Jeeps sourced from the United States to intimidate American embassy officials in 2018.
“I write to express my deep disappointment and opposition to the United States Department of Defense’s transfer of additional military equipment to the government of Guatemala without consideration for the impact on the people of Guatemala and without the Departments of Defense and State making needed changes to their end-use monitoring systems for military equipment,” Torres wrote.
Torres maintains absent reform, the current plans and efforts are undermining democracy and the rule of law in Central America.
“On October 13th, the Department of State announced the transfer of 95 vehicles, including trucks and motorcycles, to the Guatemalan Army by the Department of Defense,” Torres concluded. “The total value of these items was some $4.4 million. I am concerned that without additional safeguards, this equipment will be ripe for further misuse by the military. In no circumstance should United States donated military equipment be used to undermine democracy and free speech. Nor should this equipment be used to intimidate our own government and citizens. Our government needs strong policies in place to stop these egregious acts from happening.”
Torres has urged the Departments of Defense and State to commit to limiting the transfer of military equipment to Guatemala, as well as other Central American governments that misuse military equipment against their people, until additional oversight mechanisms are in place for appropriated funds.