When I traveled to Guatemala last summer, I was unsure of what to expect. What I found was a leader and a government fighting for reform, standing strong against drug traffickers, corruption, and bad actors. What I found was a friend of the United States, partnering with us to make our continent safer. And we should be a good friend back.

President Jimmy Morales has proven his commitment to fighting drug trafficking. Seizures of cocaine have doubled since he entered office, and illegal drug confiscations in the first half of 2018 have increased by 300 percent over last year. With these numbers and more than 106 arrests of significant drug traffickers, the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report noted Guatemala’s “notable progress” in fighting criminal organizations and the country’s “record interdiction and enforcement gains.”