ICJ to Hear Guatemala’s Bid in Belize-Honduras Border Case

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has released a statement confirming a significant development in Belize’s ongoing territorial case before the International Court of Justice. The ICJ has announced that it will hear Guatemala’s application to intervene in the Belize versus Honduras case. These oral proceedings are scheduled to begin on Monday, November twenty-four, 2025. To recap, Belize initiated this case on November sixteenth, 2022, requesting the Court to adjudicate and declare that Belize is sovereign over the Sapodilla Cayes, a group of islands located in the southern waters of the country. Belize submitted its Memorial in May 2023, followed by Honduras’ Counter-Memorial in December 2023. Both parties agreed that no further written submissions were necessary. However, the process took a turn when Guatemala applied to intervene in the case on December 1, 2023. While Belize raised no objection to Guatemala’s involvement, Honduras did, prompting the ICJ to schedule a hearing to resolve this preliminary matter before the main case can proceed. The Office of the Agent, in collaboration with Belize’s legal teams, is actively preparing to represent the nation’s interests at the upcoming hearings. This case marks another chapter in Belize’s steadfast commitment to defending its territorial integrity through peaceful and legal means.