What implications will Belize’s claim to Cayos Zapotillos have on Guatemala’s claim to Belize?
Belize filed a new lawsuit in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to claim the Zapotillos Cays. Behind this, there could be a strategy to delay the resolution of Guatemala’s territorial, insular and maritime claim on Belize, according to foreign policy consultants.
The diplomatic action was presented on November 19 and is directed against Honduras, a country whose constitution manifests territorial control over the keys. Therefore, Belize requested that the main judicial body of the United Nations recognize that they have sovereignty over said territory.
“The Government of Guatemala regrets this action. Belize agreed with Guatemala to take to the ICJ the case of the Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim of Guatemala (Guatemala/Belize), which began on June 7, 2019. Said case includes the question of the sovereignty of the Cayos Zapotillos.” expressed the Government of Guatemala in a statement.
One of the points that most attracts attention is that the Belizean claim is presented a few days after the ICJ will hold a hearing for Mexico and Honduras so that they may express their interest in the case of the Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim of Guatemala (Guatemala /Belize), warned former Foreign Minister Gabriel Orellana.
Therefore, it seems that Belize’s intention is to delay the resolution of the case.
“Somehow, they (Belize) raise it at the last minute (the lawsuit) practically as a way to further delay the solution of this matter. It must be remembered that in Guatemala the elections are coming the other year and that is another point. If you look at the calendar, since the Belize controversy started, and I’m talking about the time of the revolution, Belize has used Guatemala’s electoral times and this, according to my interpretation, also creates internal problems for the current Guatemalan government.” Orellana said.
But, in addition, there could be a strategy to confront Guatemala and Honduras around the territorial domain over the Cayos Zapotillos, says Orellana.
“In my opinion, Belize artfully intends to create a conflict between Guatemala and Honduras. So that? At the moment I cannot say it, but it is important to consider that the Belizean diplomatic school has a Cuban imprint. So they have been trying to generate conflict between third parties”, considers Orellana.
What stage is the process in?
Asked about the phase of the process, Minex said that the judicial process does not allow giving details. However, they reported that Guatemala presented its claim on December 8, 2020. Belize responded and on December 8, 2022 Guatemala will react to the position expressed by Belize.
“Guatemala’s claim includes all the rights we inherited from Spain. The current state of the process is the written phase and the expected result is legal certainty regarding the rights of Guatemala”, Minex reported.
“The legal team that represents Guatemala and that worked on the preparation of the Report (Demand) was hired in June 2019 and is made up of world-renowned international jurists, specialized in litigating before the ICJ,” the government said.
