U.S. Government Donates Essential Equipment to Support Belize Military Operations

On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Belize handed over essential equipment to the Government of Belize as part of its commitment to enhancing security cooperation throughout the region.

This donation includes IT equipment, vehicle maintenance equipment, boat engines, and a bomb disposal suit, benefiting the Belize Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JOIC), Belize Coast Guard, and Belize Defence Force. It is valued at US $616,000.

It is expected that the equipment will help address transnational criminal threats, enhance border security, and promote national security. The support aims to bolster Belize’s joint intelligence, interagency collaboration, and intelligence-driven operations, thereby enhancing maritime interdiction capabilities and the safety of Explosive Ordnance Detachment technicians.

In her keynote address, Ambassador Michelle Kwan praised the success of Belize’s joint law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational criminal threats through collaborative operations coordinated by the JIOC. She emphasised the importance of a coordinated, multi-agency approach, highlighting the involvement of various U.S. government agencies in the donation event.

JIOC Director Freddie Ku remarked, “The JIOC is a testament that when we pool resources and expertise through joint efforts, a whole lot more can be achieved.”