The position of the United States of America on the presidential elections in Guatemala in 1966

The Guatemalan armed forces led by the Minister of Defense launched a military coup in 1963 to prevent the return of former Guatemalan President Arevalo to the presidency and the country shifted from civilian rule to military rule. As a result, the US administration asked the head of the military government to hold elections to return to constitutional civilian rule, and after pressure and demands from the ambassador American John Bell in Guatemala, elections were held during 1966, and the US administration was keen to choose a candidate who would serve its political and economic interests in Guatemala and work to combat communism in the country.