Guatemala Reaffirms Commitment to ICJ Ruling

Guatemala’s Foreign Minister, Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado, is doubling down on his country’s commitment to the International Court of Justice process as the long‑standing territorial dispute with Belize edges closer to a final ruling. Speaking after today’s meeting, Martínez Alvarado stressed that Guatemala will respect whatever decision the ICJ hands down; win, lose, or draw. He called the case a model of how countries can resolve disputes peacefully and through international law. Here’s how he put it.

 

Carlos Ramiro Martinez Alvarado, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guatemala

“We have an agreement with Belize, and we have gone through the processes at the ICJ. We continue to monitor the development of the process across all phases that have been presented. I have been vocal in previous forums about our commitment as a country to honor the judgement and remain compliant. And the OAS plays a very important role in this whole process. In the same manner that Minister Fonseca has handled the case as we reflected on the case for the past twenty years, we will continue to collaborate with them. This was our first engagement with the new representative of the Secretary-General. She had already met with other countries, but this was our first official meeting with her. We consider her role an essential part of the collaboration between our two countries. As we have said before, this process stands as an example of an amicable resolution to a long-standing controversial issue involving both nations.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Does Guatemala remain committed to respecting the ICJ final ruling regardless of the outcome?”

 

Carlos Ramiro Martinez Alvarado

“Yes, and like I’ve said before in many other forums that I’ve been part of, our position is with the basic principles according to international law. And the court follows that, so with a firm ‘yes’, I respond to your question.”