By hipolito

Copyright greaterbelize

Guatemalan President Comments on Sarstoon Incident

Recent confrontations on the Sarstoon River have reignited one of the most sensitive disputes between Belize and Guatemala, with both countries exchanging sharp statements as regional organisations condemned recent military actions.

The Guatemalan president, Bernardo Arévalo, addressed the situation, framing the incident within the long-standing territorial dispute between the two nations. “These incidents unfortunately recur over time in the Sarstoon area and often involve security forces from both countries, as well as other actors,” he said. He said that the root of tensions lies in unresolved territorial differences and noted that both nations have agreed to resolve the dispute through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “We are awaiting the start of oral proceedings, which is a process that takes years,” he added.

The President stressed that Guatemala is committed to defending its sovereignty while preventing localised incidents from escalating. “We need to be very clear and firm in defending our sovereignty, but above all, we must avoid allowing these incidents to turn into a larger problem, as both countries are committed to resolving the dispute through the legal process,” he said. He also noted that Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will release an official statement later today.

Belize’s government issued a strong response on Tuesday, rejecting Guatemala’s narrative of the events. The statement said it “forthrightly rejects the bold attempt of the Government of the Republic of Guatemala to present alternative facts in order to seek to distort the narrative of what transpired at the Sarstoon.” The government added that videos show Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldiers acting “professional, calm, and restrained” despite Guatemala’s claims of provocation.

“Belize does not doubt its sovereignty over its side of the Sarstoon River,” the statement continued, citing international law and the 1859 treaty, which established the boundary with Guatemala at the mid-channel of the river. “The Sarstoon Island lies squarely within Belize’s sovereign territory,” the Ministry declared. It also reaffirmed that the treaty guarantees equal use of the river, noting, “The channels of the river are equally free and open to the vessels of both countries.”

Regional organisations, including the Commonwealth and CARICOM, condemned what they called “provocative actions” by the Guatemalan military and illegal incursions into Belizean territory.

Meanwhile, Guatemala’s Foreign Ministry defended its military actions, claiming they were conducted “within its constitutional mandate to defend sovereignty with prudence and responsibility.” The ministry accused the Belize military of entering Guatemalan “national territory through the Sarstoon River without the required authorisation, in violation of the territorial integrity of Guatemala.”