Guatemala files formal protest after Chiapas police incite gun battle across border
Mexico’s war on drug trafficking crossed into Guatemala on Sunday, and now the Central American nation’s Foreign Relations Ministry is demanding answers about the illegal incident.
A Chiapas state police operation against suspected drug traffickers resulted in a car chase leading to Mexico’s southern border on Sunday afternoon. The police killed four gunmen, then pursued other suspects into Guatemalan territory, engaging them in a shoot-out in a Guatemalan border town.
Se extiende tiroteo hasta Guatemala
Policías de Chiapas cruzaron hasta Guatemala para enfrentarse a balazos con integrantes de un grupo criminal, lo cual dejó un saldo preliminar de al menos cuatro abatidos; ese punto de la frontera cerrado y el despliegue del Ejército… pic.twitter.com/EfQ9DM8v9f
— Mariana Morales (@MarianaMorale_s) June 9, 2025
At least three Chiapas police vehicles crossed into Guatemala in a dramatic scene that saw Guatemalan military personnel and National Civil Police vehicles arrive on site as the gun battle raged.
On Tuesday, Guatemala sent a diplomatic note to Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry (SRE), filing a formal protest and demanding that Mexico investigate. The SRE responded shortly thereafter with a formal apology.
In the letter of protest, Guatemala expressed “grave concern” for the lack of “reciprocal respect” at its shared border, deplored the “violations of international rights” and decried the failure to coordinate security actions with Guatemala authorities.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the actions of the Chiapas state police on Monday and, during her Tuesday morning press conference (before the diplomatic note had been delivered), called on the Chiapas officials to be punished.
“This should not happen,” Sheinbaum said Tuesday. “We have spoken to (the Chiapas governor), telling him that Mexican security forces should not enter Guatemala in such a reckless manner.”
She said Foreign Relations Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente had been in touch with the Guatemalan government to reiterate Mexico’s commitment to coordinating security actions.
El Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores expresa su protesta a la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México por la incursión al territorio nacional.#Comunicado
Advertising by Adpathway
