FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Belize's
principal external concern has been the dispute involving the
Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. This dispute originated
in Imperial Spain's claim to all "New World" territories
west of the line established in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
Nineteenth-century efforts to resolve the problems led to later
differences over interpretation and implementation of an 1859
treaty intended to establish the boundaries between Guatemala
and Belize, then named British Honduras. Guatemala contends that
the 1859 treaty is void because the British failed to comply with
all its economic assistance clauses. Neither Spain nor Guatemala
ever exercised effective sovereignty over the area.
Negotiations
have been underway for many years, including one period in the
1960s in which the U.S. Government sought unsuccessfully to mediate.
A 1981 trilateral (Belize, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom)
"Heads of Agreement" was not implemented due to continued
contentions. Belize became independent on September 21, 1981,
with the territorial dispute unresolved. Significant negotiations
between Belize and Guatemala, with the United Kingdom as an observer,
resumed in 1988. Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in
1991, and diplomatic relations were established.
Eventually, on November 8, 2000, the two parties agreed to respect an "adjacency zone" extending one kilometer east and west from the border. Around this time, the Government of Guatemala insisted that the territorial claim was a legal one and that the only possibility for a resolution was to submit the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the Government of Belize felt that taking the case to the ICJ or to arbitration represented an unnecessary expense of time and money. So the Belizean Government proposed an alternate process, one under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS).
Since then, despite efforts by the OAS to jumpstart the process, movement has been limited to confidence-building measures between the parties. In November 2007, the Secretary General of the OAS recommended that the dispute be referred to the International Court of Justice.
In order to strengthen its potential for economic and political development, Belize has sought to build closer ties with the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America to complement its historical ties to the English-speaking Caribbean states. In 2005 Belize joined other Central American countries participating in the Cooperating Nations Information Exchange System (CNIES), which assists in locating, identifying, tracking, and intercepting civil aircraft in Belize's airspace. Belize and other Central American countries signed the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA (CONCAUSA) agreement on regional sustainable development. Belize held the presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA) for a 6-month period in 2007. Belize is a member of CARICOM, which was founded in 1973. It became a member of the OAS in 1990.
U.S.-BELIZEAN
RELATIONS
The United States and Belize traditionally have had close and
cordial relations. The United States is Belize's principal trading
partner and major source of investment funds. It is also home
to the largest Belizean community outside Belize, estimated to
be 70,000 strong. Because Belize's economic growth and accompanying
democratic political stability are important U.S. objectives,
Belize benefits from the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative.
International
crime issues dominate the agenda of bilateral relations between
the United States and Belize. The United States is working closely
with the Government of Belize to fight illicit narcotics trafficking,
and both governments seek to control the flow of illegal migrants
to the United States through Belize. Belize and the United States
brought into force a Stolen Vehicle Treaty, an Extradition Treaty,
and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between 2001 and 2003.
The United States is one of the largest providers of economic assistance to Belize, contributing $2.5 million in various bilateral economic and military aid programs to Belize in FY 2006. Of this amount, nearly half a million dollars was provided by the U.S. Military Liaison Office. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) closed its Belize office in August 1996 after a 13-year program during which USAID provided $110 million worth of development assistance to Belize. Belize still benefits from USAID regional programs. In addition, during the past 42 years, almost 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Belize. As of February 2008, the Peace Corps had 63 volunteers working in Belize. The U.S. military has a diverse and growing assistance program in Belize that has included the construction and renovation of several schools and youth hostels, medical assistance programs, and drug reduction programs. Private North American investors continue to play a key role in Belize's economy, particularly in the tourism sector.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Belize Defence Force (BDF), established in January 1973, is comprised of a light infantry force of regulars and reservists along with small air and maritime wings. The BDF, currently under the command of Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, assumed total defense responsibility from British Forces Belize (BFB) on January 1, 1994. The United Kingdom continues to maintain the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) to assist in the administration of the Belize Jungle School. The BDF receives military assistance from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Robert J. Dieter
Deputy Chief of Mission--Leonard A. Hill
Economic/Political Officer--Thomas Wise
Consul--Kimberly Valdes-Dapena, Acting
Management Officer--vacant
Military Liaison Officer--LTC Tammy McNamara
The U.S. Embassy is located in the City of Belmopan on Floral Park Street. The mailing address is P.O. Box 497, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize, Central America: tel: 011-501- 822-4011 from the United States or 822-4011 locally; fax: 011-501-822-4012 Main number; 822-4053 Administrative Office; 822-4050 Consular Section. E-mail address: embbelize@state.gov, Web site address: http://belize.usembassy.gov/.
