An encounter between members of the Guatemalan armed forces and the Belize Defense Force (BDF) on November 7th prompted the deployment of additional troops to the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base in the Toledo District. The Government of Belize (GOB) condemned the incident, reporting that Guatemalan military vessels crossed into Belizean waters and aggressively approached a BDF patrol near Sarstoon Island.
The latest encounter has raised concerns about tensions along the Sarstoon River and the safety of Belizean military personnel operating in the area. In a release, the government said the BDF was conducting a routine patrol around Sarstoon Island on the Belizean side of the river when two Guatemalan vessels approached, bumped the BDF vessel, and attempted to block its passage. According to the release, the patrol acted professionally and with restraint, completed its patrol, and returned safely to the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base.
Following the incident, the base was reinforced with additional BDF personnel and vessels from the BDF and Belize Coast Guard. “The government strongly condemns these acts of aggression and the incursion into Belizean waters,” the release stated. The government added that it would lodge a formal protest with Guatemala and report the incident to the Organization of American States. It commended the BDF personnel for their discipline and composure and called on Guatemala to respect Belize’s sovereignty and refrain from further provocation.
The Guatemalan military posted that the BDF were traversing Guatemalan waters. “Naval personnel acted in accordance with established procedures and informed the vessel of the territorial boundaries; the vessel subsequently returned to its point of origin without further incident,” The Guatemalan military noted.
On Sunday, November 8th the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis, accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Freddie Ku and Lieutenant Colonel Omar Tzalam, visited the personnel deployed at the Sarstoon base. The Belizean troops were encouraged to remain vigilant and steadfast in their duties. The commanders also expressed full confidence in the servicemen deployed in this sensitive area of the country’s southernmost border.
Belize maintains that the 1859 Treaty between Guatemala and Great Britain established the boundary along the mid-channel of the Sarstoon River, placing Sarstoon Island within Belizean territory. Guatemala disputes Belize’s position regarding sovereignty over the river and island.
The ongoing confrontations form part of the wider territorial, maritime, and insular dispute between the two countries. Guatemala claims more than half of Belize’s territory, along with associated maritime areas and islands. The dispute is before the International Court of Justice, with oral hearings reportedly scheduled to begin in February 2027.
The government noted that both countries are obliged to refrain from actions that could aggravate the dispute. “Belize remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the dispute,” the release stated.