Guatemala

As the territorial, insular, and maritime dispute between Belize and Guatemala moves closer to oral hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Guatemalan government has intensified an educational campaign urging its institutions to use maps that depict Belize as part of Guatemala. The latest instance occurred on November 14th, when Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted an image on its official Facebook page showing a map with Belize annexed, accompanied by instructions explaining why it must be portrayed that way.

The 12th edition of the Central American Games is underway in Guatemala, with several Belizean athletes competing during the first week of events. Among the national delegation, four San Pedranos proudly represent the island: Julio Bardalez with the National Softball Team, Kian Trejo in triathlon, and Alexa Acosta and Johann Marin in weightlifting.

The Under-16 Belize Boys National Team represented the country at the 2025 UNCAF FIFA Forward Tournament held in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The team featured San Pedro’s own Erick Rodriguez as goalkeeper and faced intense competition from Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama.

Throughout September, Belizeans witnessed another flare-up in tensions surrounding the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute. Guatemala continues to assert a claim over half of Belize’s landmass, all of its islands (Cayes), and the maritime territory extending from the coast. The latest incidents with the Guatemalan Armed Forces at the Sarstoon River in southern Belize prompted strong protests from the Government of Belize. In response, Guatemala reaffirmed its sovereignty claim over the entire river. Experts further explained that Guatemala’s position extends to all of Belize’s Cayes. Guatemalan officials also discussed possible scenarios in the event that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules in their favor.

The 2025 Noche Centro Americana celebration in San Pedro was held on Saturday, September 13th, at the Saca Chispas Field. It marked the independence anniversaries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Despite heavy rain, the event still drew a supportive crowd.

On Monday, September 8, 2025, Belize’s Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado, was placed on a 45-day leave amid the controversy surrounding the Joseph Budna kidnapping case. The move, unprecedented in Belize’s history, followed Prime Minister John Briceño’s review of an initial investigative report that he deemed “incomplete and unsatisfactory.” The decision has sparked a strong national reaction.

For the first time in diplomatic history, Belize’s Prime Minister, Honorable Dr. John Briceño, met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo at a special gathering on August 15 in Calakmul, Mexico. The high-level trilateral meeting culminated in the signing of a landmark agreement aimed at strengthening environmental conservation and enhancing regional cooperation on energy, infrastructure, and trade.

The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, located in southern Belize, is a chain of 14 islands off the coast of the Toledo District, currently co-managed by the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE). TIDE conducts routine patrols alongside the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) to protect the area from illegal fishing and other illicit activities. However, enforcement efforts are met with significant challenges, including transboundary issues stemming from the reserve’s proximity to Guatemala and Honduras.