Belize Seeks to Save $125M U.S. Grant in D.C. Talks

Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca concluded two days of high-level meetings in Washington, D.C., earlier this week, where he engaged regional allies on Belize’s border relations and risk of losing major U.S. development funding.

Fonseca joined the Foreign Minister of Guatemala and the Group of Friends of Belize at the Organisation of American States (OAS). Discussions included the ICJ process and tensions at the Sarstoon. “We discussed the challenges we continue to face on the border… and generally, Belize and Guatemala relations in terms of trade, investment, and other opportunities,” he said.

The OAS Secretary General commended both countries for reaffirming their commitment to peace and dialogue and said the organisation will continue its work in the Adjacency Zone.

Fonseca also met with U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Gregory Meeks and the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to discuss continued support for Belize. “We talked about different challenges Belize was facing; we discussed issues that we wanted their support with, including the MCC issue.”

Belize’s US$125 million MCC grant was thrown into question in April after a U.S. government agency shut down the program. The move echoed earlier U.S. foreign aid cuts under the re-elected President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.