Belize and Washington Discuss Expanded Troop Presence
Could more American troops soon be stationed in Belize? U.S. Ambassador Andre Bauer says Washington is prepared to consider expanding its security presence if the Belizean government formally requests it. Bauer says both Prime Minister John Briceño and Opposition Leader Tracy Panton have shown interest in discussing the possibility, as the United States places greater focus on security across the Western Hemisphere. He says any deployment would support joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, human trafficking and other transnational threats. While no agreement has been reached, Bauer says the United States has the resources and the willingness to respond if Belize decides it wants additional support on the ground.
Andre Bauer
Andre Bauer, US Ambassador
“I know that the Secretary of State has allocated six hundred immediate troops on the ground in the Western Hemisphere. Of course, they would love to have troops here if Belize saw it, if they feel they are willing to do that. That’s a discussion that, I know, Tracy [Panton] showed an interest, and I know the PM showed an interest. So there are discussions that will be had because all of this hemisphere has become of the utmost importance to the United States of America and their partners, countries like Belize, where we want t o make sure that we’re doing all we can for things like drug trafficking and human trafficking. So if Belize decides that it would like to have a bigger presence here, I think that the United States has an appetite to try to provide that.”
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