Belize Prepares for High-Level Talks with Mexico and Guatemala

Three regional leaders will meet on Friday, August 15, to discuss cooperation across key sectors. Prime Minister John Briceño will join Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Guatemala’s Bernardo Arévalo to strengthen collaboration in energy, migration, security, infrastructure, environment, agriculture investment and air connectivity.

“The unity among our countries is the best way to face the challenges of the region,” Arévalo said on Monday via social media. He pointed out a major part of the agenda are regional initiatives such as Mexico’s Tren Maya project, which is set to expand across borders.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca told reporters this afternoon that the meeting could include the signing of a pact between the countries. “I think there will be a signing of a pact, of a shared commitment; it’s not a binding document but creates a legal obligation, but a pact that demonstrates the commitment of all three countries to the protection of our biodiversity and shared spaces,” he said.

While the meeting will convene the three regional leaders, Fonseca indicated that territorial disputes between Belize and Guatemala might not be discussed during this session. The latest incursion occurred on Monday, when a vessel belonging to the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) was observed within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.

Fonseca reassured that Belizean officials “bring that up on every occasion, every opportunity. Mexico will be present, so I don’t know about the appropriateness of raising it in front of them. But I can assure you that this matter is raised at every opportunity… We take that issue very seriously, and we do everything that we can to ensure that Belize’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are protected.”

He added, “We are concerned about it, and we do recognise that we are on a path to a peaceful resolution of this unfounded claim through the International Court of Justice… These things may continue until we have a definitive judgement from the court.”