As the decades-long territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala inches closer to a binding ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regional and international stakeholders have stepped up engagement to ensure continued stability along the countries’ shared Adjacency Zone. On September 1, 2026, senior representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the so-called Group of Friends — a coalition of supporting countries backing both nations — traveled to the border region to hold in-person talks focused on preserving peace, expanding cross-border cooperation, and sustaining open diplomatic channels ahead of the court’s decision.
The meeting was held at the OAS’s local office in Benque, located directly in the Adjacency Zone. In attendance were OAS Secretary General, Belizean Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca, his Guatemalan counterpart, and ambassadors from the Group of Friends countries. In remarks following the discussion, Fonseca outlined the core goals of the gathering: updating international partners on on-the-ground conditions, aligning on preparations for the ICJ’s final judgment, which is projected to be delivered within the next 18 to 24 months, and laying early groundwork for post-ruling implementation support.
Fonseca emphasized that both nations have reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a peaceful resolution of Guatemala’s longstanding territorial claim, which Belize has characterized as unfounded. “This was a very constructive meeting about the road ahead,” Fonseca said. “We wanted to make sure that the OAS office is prepared for the next two years, and that they will remain engaged to support us even after the judgment is issued. We will need targeted help and backing from our international partners to implement whatever the court decides, so starting these discussions early to get ready makes all the sense in the world.”
The high-level engagement comes as the international community monitors the final phase of the ICJ process, a historic milestone that is expected to bring a definitive end to one of the longest-running territorial disputes in the Western Hemisphere. The OAS has maintained a permanent presence in the Adjacency Zone for years, tasked with supporting confidence-building measures and preventing tensions along the border from escalating ahead of the court’s ruling.