Türkiye is a strategic partner in Latin America, says Guatemalan deputy foreign minister

Guatemala considers Türkiye a strategic partner in Latin America and maintains very strong bilateral relations, Deputy Foreign Minister Monica Renata Bolanos Perez said Friday.

“Our relations are very strong. Türkiye is our strategic partner in Latin America. And the opening of embassies both in Ankara and Guatemala City has been very helpful in order to strengthen our relations, commercial relations and also cooperation in very strategic priority areas," she told Anadolu at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, taking place from April 17 to 19, is bringing together world leaders and senior officials under the theme Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties, focusing on global challenges and international cooperation.

She also welcomed recent ceasefire efforts in Iran and Lebanon, calling for a lasting truce.

“For Guatemala, we welcome the ceasefire not only in Iran but also in Lebanon. We as a small country in Latin America, we would like this ceasefire to be permanent and to go back to the table of negotiations and dialogue,” she said.

The US and Israel began attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, prompting retaliation from Tehran against US allies in the Gulf and from Hezbollah in Lebanon. In response, Israel began striking Hezbollah, killing over 2,000 people and displacing 1 million over the last six weeks.

The two-week Pakistan-mediated truce is set to expire on April 22.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has also come into effect, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday following US-mediated talks in Washington, DC.

*Writing by Beril Canakci