As the September 18 launch date approaches, the landmark $125 million Millennium Challenge Compact between the Government of Belize and the United States is one step closer to implementation, with Belizean officials now advancing the required domestic ratification process. On July 31, 2026, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño tabled a critical amendment to the existing Millennium Challenge Act, a legislative change designed to clear the final legal hurdles for the agreement to take effect. During the parliamentary introduction of the amendment, Briceño outlined exactly how the U.S. funding will be allocated across three key priority sectors for Belize’s long-term development. Briceño used his address before parliament to publicly appeal for cross-party support for the compact, emphasizing the transformative benefits the funding will deliver for the small Central American nation. “Mr. Speaker I would like to take the opportunity to reiterate my government’s support for this program and our commitment to see the program through to a successful completion,” Briceño told the chamber. “And I take the opportunity to publicly ask the leader of the opposition and its members to support this. It is something good.” The largest portion of the funding will go toward modernizing Belize’s education system, aligning curricula and training programs with the evolving needs of the country’s economy to better prepare the workforce for current and future job opportunities. A second allocation will support the modernization of Belize’s national energy sector legislation and upgrade critical energy infrastructure. Most notably, the funding will cover a large share of the costs to replace the aging submarine power cable that connects mainland Belize to the high-demand tourist hub of Ambergris Caye, San Pedro. Briceño noted that the existing cable has far exceeded its intended service life and was scheduled for replacement as early as 2019, making the project an urgent priority for the government. “That will not be enough. The government will still have to put in additional money to fund that project,” Briceño added, confirming that the compact covers only a portion of the total infrastructure cost. Following its introduction in parliament, the proposed amendment will now be referred to a House committee for further consultation and review before a full parliamentary vote on ratification can proceed. The Millennium Challenge Corporation, the U.S. agency that administers these compacts, designs the agreements to support inclusive, sustainable economic growth in partner countries, with funding tied to proven policy and infrastructure priorities. Once ratified by Belize’s legislature, the compact will officially launch on September 18, kicking off years of planned investment across the priority projects.