On October 23, 2026, Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a cross-border investigation into an unauthorized Guatemalan aircraft entry into Belizean national airspace is accelerating toward formal launch, as both nations work to finalize the governing framework for the probe. Led by the Organization of American States (OAS), the independent inquiry was established to deliver a full, transparent accounting of the unapproved incursion, which has raised territorial sovereignty concerns for the Belizean government. Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca shared a public update on the process, noting that the OAS has already pre-vetted and selected a roster of independent, neutral technical experts to lead the on-the-ground investigative work once the terms of reference are formally signed off by both Belize and Guatemalan authorities. In a recent briefing, Fonseca revealed that he had received the latest revised draft of the terms of reference via official correspondence earlier that same day, with domestic diplomatic teams already conducting a line-by-line review of the document. The framework, which outlines the scope of the investigation, data collection protocols, expert mandates, and public disclosure rules for final findings, requires mutual sign-off from both Belize and Guatemala to ensure neither party disputes the probe’s legitimacy. Fonseca emphasized that Belize is prioritizing rapid progress on the review, and he expressed confidence that the two nations will resolve any remaining minor adjustments to the terms of reference before the end of the week. Once the document is formally ratified, the appointed independent experts can immediately launch their fact-finding work, a process that Belizean officials project will take no more than several weeks to complete. The foreign minister also confirmed that all final findings from the OAS-led investigation will be released publicly, to ensure full transparency for citizens of both nations and regional stakeholders monitoring the longstanding border and airspace disputes between Belize and Guatemala.