Mexico, Guatemala Strengthen Ties With Railway, Border Projects

On Feb. 10, Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez met to discuss key bilateral issues, including border management, railway interconnection, economic integration, human mobility, development cooperation, and culture.

“Guatemala not only has an unbreakable historical bond with Mexico, but also—through the relationship between President Sheinbaum and President Arévalo—ties that allow us to face our shared challenges in a unified and coordinated manner. Doing this together is not only a privilege for Mexico but also an opportunity to address them successfully,” said de la Fuente.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed completing the connection between both countries through Line "K" of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Tehuantepec Isthmus (CIIT). They also highlighted the progress made by Mexican and Guatemalan customs authorities in launching the pilot program for joint cargo clearance at the Suchiate II-Tecun Uman II customs facilities. Additionally, they agreed to enhance high-level communication between security authorities and strengthen border-monitoring efforts.

Both officials agreed that Guatemala and Mexico are neighbors, friends, partners, and allies, and that the strength of their relationship transcends any circumstance. 

The railway connection with CIIT dates back to July of last year when then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Raymundo Morales, General Director, CIIT, explained in a press conference that Line K links Ciudad Ixtepec, Oaxaca, and Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, a region bordering Guatemala, covering 459km. “We will strengthen our ties with Guatemala and promote the development of southeastern Mexico and Central America,” they affirmed.

The railway project, overseen by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), includes the construction of an intermodal yard in Suchiate, Chiapas, and a passenger station in Ciudad Hidalgo. Simultaneously, Line K is being rehabilitated up to the international bridge. The Guatemalan government plans to build an intermodal yard in Tecun Uman and modernize its railway infrastructure.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), Mexico will donate 400,000m of rail, sleepers, and track fastening systems to integrate Guatemala into the connectivity network as soon as possible, enhancing cargo flow.  The Isthmus Railway, along with the Mayan Train, will establish over 2,600km of railway in southeastern Mexico, alongside modernization efforts in the ports that make up the CIIT.

On Jan. 22, President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned in a press conference that discussions with President Arévalo began regarding the Interoceanic Train reaching the Guatemala border in Ciudad Hidalgo. She stated that Line K is nearly 66% complete, with a crucial bridge almost finished. Resources are allocated for extending the railway to Guatemala by early 2026. The initiative also includes Development Poles in southern Mexico, particularly in Tapachula, as part of Plan México.

The Chiapas government is also actively involved in this project, focusing on the development of the southern border region shared by Mexico and Guatemala. Additionally, discussions will soon resume with Belize regarding the Mayan Train entering through Belize to bypass the Peten rainforest, a crucial ecological area, before continuing into Guatemala.