The United States has formalized new health cooperation agreements with Guatemala, Guinea, and El Salvador. These bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) are part of the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy, which aims to support sustainable and country-led health systems while enhancing disease detection and response in partner countries.
In Guatemala, the U.S. Department of State plans to provide nearly $60 million in support, while the Guatemalan government will contribute $1.6 million in new domestic spending under the agreement. The MOU outlines the development of a surveillance and outbreak response system that can detect infectious disease outbreaks within seven days, notify international authorities within one day, and implement response actions within a week.
For Guinea, the two countries have signed a five-year MOU valued at $142 million. The United States intends to contribute over $91 million for programs addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal and child health, polio eradication, and global health security. Guinea will co-invest more than $51 million. The partnership will focus on strengthening laboratory networks with biosafety management aligned with international standards by 2027 and improving malaria surveillance through laboratory quality control and epidemiological investigations.
In El Salvador, the Department of State plans to provide up to nearly $31.9 million over five years to help combat HIV/AIDS and strengthen disease surveillance capabilities. El Salvador is set to increase its domestic health spending by more than $19.7 million as part of its commitment to greater national ownership of its health system. Of the U.S. investment, $7.9 million will go toward Global Health Security initiatives aimed at improving disease surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
According to the Department of State, these MOUs are part of a broader initiative that has resulted in more than $20.2 billion in new global health funding so far—including over $12.5 billion from the United States—with recipient countries contributing an additional $7.7 billion in co-investment efforts worldwide through 24 bilateral agreements.
“These MOUs establish frameworks for sustainable, country-led health systems while strengthening disease detection and response capabilities that protect both partner nations and American communities from emerging health threats,” according to a statement from the Department of State.
