The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has concluded a three-day public hearing on Guatemala’s request to intervene in the sovereignty dispute over the Sapodilla Cayes, a contested territory between Belize and Honduras. Guatemala invoked Article 62 of the ICJ Statute, asserting its strategic interest in the case. While Belize did not oppose the intervention, Honduras criticized the move as unnecessary and an abuse of the legal process, urging the court to reject Guatemala’s application outright. The ICJ will now deliberate on the matter, with a ruling on Guatemala’s participation expected in the coming months. During the hearings, Guatemala argued that the case exemplifies the purpose of Article 63, which allows third-party intervention in disputes involving shared territorial claims. However, Belize’s legal counsel, Ben Juratowitch, countered that the unique circumstances of the case do not justify Guatemala’s involvement. He referenced the Gulf of Fonseca case and the Eritrea/Yemen arbitral award to highlight the complexities of the dispute. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for international territorial disputes.