Relationship dossier
El Salvador
Guatemala
Relationship assessment
Economic integration, including a bilateral customs union, anchors cooperation between El Salvador and Guatemala.
El Salvador toward Guatemala
+40El Salvador joined Guatemala in establishing a bilateral customs union, which became operational in 2018, to facilitate trade and cross-border movement.
Guatemala toward El Salvador
+40Guatemala joined El Salvador in establishing a bilateral customs union, which became operational in 2018, to facilitate trade and cross-border movement.
Overall relationship
+40The bilateral customs union represents a substantive, durable framework for economic integration. Regional arrangements also facilitate movement between the countries, but the breadth of their bilateral cooperation beyond these mechanisms is less certain.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
El Salvador and Guatemala have pursued practical economic integration, including a bilateral customs union agreement that became operational in 2018. Their participation in the CA-4 arrangement also supports regional movement across borders. These measures provide a basis for cooperative relations, though the scope and implementation of broader bilateral cooperation are less clear.
Key developments
El Salvador and Guatemala agreed to establish a bilateral customs union.
The bilateral customs union became operational, facilitating trade and cross-border movement.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral cooperation beyond customs and regional integration are unclear.
- The extent of continuing coordination on border management and security is uncertain.