In 2021，judicial independence in Guatemala was severely weakened. In the short term，social instability and party fragmentation are expected to continue. The Guatemalan economy has been recovering，with a shrinking budget deficit and expanding foreign trade. Guatemala has not been managing the COVID-19 situation well. Its vaccine rollout lags behind most Latin American countries. The U.S.-Guatemala relations have improved，but anti-corruption becomes the issue causing tension between the two countries.