PM Confident ICJ Will Rule in Belize’s Favor

Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize could receive a judgment from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the long-standing territorial dispute with Guatemala.

“I am further advised that it is likely that before the end of this term, we will receive the ICJ judgments,” the Prime Minister said on Friday.

Belize’s ICJ case, which was officially submitted to the court in 2019 following a national referendum that saw the majority of Belizeans vote in favor of having the court resolve the dispute.

“I am advised that we are awaiting the date of hearing of the Guatemala/Belize and Belize/Honduras cases from the International Court of Justice,” PM Briceño said.

Belize and Guatemala have been at odds for more than a century over territory that Guatemala claims as its own—roughly half of Belize’s landmass. The matter was taken to the ICJ after both nations agreed, through referenda, to submit the case for a final and binding resolution.

Briceño added, “We are confident that we will prevail at the ICJ. We are confident that we will retain all our land, sea and islands. We fully expect that the unfounded claims against our territory will be defeated.”