ICJ to Decide if Guatemala Can Join the Fight Over Sapodilla Cayes

The years-long dispute over the Sapodilla Cayes is heading toward a decisive moment, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed it will deliver a ruling on Guatemala’s request to intervene in the Belize-Honduras sovereignty case on March 19, 2026. 

Belize brought the case against Honduras in 2022 after bilateral talks failed to resolve Honduras’ claim, which is grounded in its 1982 constitution. Belize has controlled the islands for decades prior to the dispute.

Guatemala jumped in at the end of 2023, arguing that any ICJ ruling could impact its own longstanding territorial and maritime claims against Belize, which is already before the court in a separate case. Guatemala insists it’s not making a new claim, just protecting its legal rights.

Belize did not object to Guatemala’s participation, saying coordinated proceedings would help resolve all territorial claims decisively. Honduras, however, accused Guatemala of misusing the intervention process and called on the ICJ to reject the application.