Guatemala’s Military Activity Puts Belize on Alert

Is it coincidence or cause for concern? Guatemala received its first shipment of U.S. military equipment on Monday, and four days later, one of its military aircraft allegedly crossed into Belizean airspace without permission. The Ministry of Defense says the military purchase is nothing unusual. But tonight, questions are also mounting over reports that a Guatemalan flag was planted on Sarstoon Island.

 

Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of Defense

“The Guatemalans recently were taken off a so-called blacklist for procurement from the U.S. They utilized that to procure some arms and ammunition. There is nothing out of the ordinary as it relates to that procurement. As far as the Sarstoon Island, there is no Guatemalan flag on the Sarstoon Island. And after they had their many boats in the Sarstoon River, our BDF did go on patrol and there were no flags there. So, no flag was left there. Maybe they had their flag on the boat, who knows. But there is no flag nor will there be a Guatemalan flag left on the Sarstoon Island.”

 

The resumption of US military sales is part of what the Guatemalan government describes as a new phase of cooperation with Washington and efforts to modernize its armed forces.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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