Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca was in Washington, D.C. this week, meeting with top officials at the Organization of American States to discuss some of the country’s most pressing issues, from border security to building strategic partnerships. But one meeting didn’t happen: Fonseca didn’t get face time with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Earlier this year, Rubio toured the Caribbean and Central America, meeting with leaders across the region, but Belize was left off the itinerary. Instead, Prime Minister John Briceño received only a phone call. So, what’s behind the diplomatic distance? Following his trip, we asked Minister Fonseca why Belize still hasn’t had a sit-down with the U.S. Secretary of State.
Francis Fonseca, Minster of Foreign Affairs
“Secretary Rubio has not met with any foreign minister, he’s met with leaders, heads of government, and as he had a very extensive phone conversation with Prime Minister about two months ago. So we’re absolutely satisfied with the discussions we had. As I said, we’ve had a number of meetings with members of the State Department, including the Deputy Secretary Landau, who is responsible for the Western Hemisphere, and that has always been the nature of the relationship between Belize and the Secretary of the State Department. We work with the on the Secretary who is responsible for the Western Hemisphere. So we have a great working relationship with. Deputy Secretary Landau. As I said on this visit, I met with Secretary Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security. We are absolutely satisfied with that and we are fully confident that Secretary Rubio is engaged, understands what’s happening, and is committed to a good working relationship with Belize.”
Reporter
“So you don’t take it as a slight?”
Francis Finseca
“No, absolutely not. Absolutely not.”