BDF Commandant Azariel Loria to Retire After Nearly Four Years in Command

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the long-serving commandant of the Belize Defence Force (BDF), is set to retire, marking the end of a notable tenure leading the country’s military. General Loria, who has served as the head of the BDF since his appointment in January 2022, will step down following the expiration of his contract later this month, concluding a period of service at the helm of Belize’s professional defence force. Loria’s leadership has spanned nearly four years, during which the BDF has continued its core mandate of safeguarding Belize’s borders and supporting national security initiatives. He took command on January 21, 2022, succeeding Brigadier General Steven Ortega, and has overseen developments in organizational structure and operational readiness. In remarks on the timeline of the transition, Minister of National Defence and Border Security Florencio Marín Jr. reflected on General Loria’s service and the planned change in leadership.

Florencio Marin Jr, Minister of National Defence and Border Security: “Officially, General Loria has retired on December 21st. That’s why if you notice we still refer to General Velasquez as “Acting”.

Reporter: And the change of command will happen when? 

Florencio Marin Jr, Minister of National Defence and Border Security: “It is slated for January 30th.”