4 weeks ago
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The International Court of Justice has granted Guatemala permission to intervene in the ongoing legal proceedings between Belize and Honduras over sovereignty of the Sapodilla Cayes, located at the southern end of the Belize Barrier Reef in the Gulf of Honduras.
In a judgment delivered today in The Hague, the Court ruled that Guatemala may participate in the case as a non-party intervenor under Article 62 of the Court’s Statute. The intervention will be limited to matters concerning sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes, referred to in Honduras as the Cayos Zapotillos, as well as fishing rights in the surrounding waters. Belize first filed the case against Honduras in November 2022, seeking a declaration from the Court affirming that the Sapodilla Cayes fall under Belize’s sovereignty. Guatemala later applied in December 2023 to intervene, arguing that the outcome of the case could affect its own longstanding territorial claim over the same islands, which forms part of a separate dispute currently before the ICJ between Belize and Guatemala. Public hearings on Guatemala’s request were held in November 2025. During those proceedings Belize indicated that it had no objection to Guatemala’s participation, while Honduras argued that the request was unnecessary and should be rejected. The Court ultimately determined that Guatemala’s application satisfied the necessary legal and procedural requirements and dismissed Honduras’ objections.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said the ruling represents progress toward resolving the two sovereignty matters currently before the ICJ involving Belize. According to the Ministry, the Court determined that Guatemala has a legal interest in the case and may intervene strictly as a non-party on the issue of sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes and the associated fishing rights. The Ministry also emphasized that the decision does not affect the legal claims or rights of any of the parties involved but rather allows each country to present its arguments before the Court as the proceedings continue. The statement further noted that the Court has set May 19 as the deadline for Guatemala to submit its written statement as a non-party, while Belize and Honduras will have until July 20 to submit their respective written observations. Speaking on the issue last September, Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management Henry Charles Usher said Belize supported Guatemala’s participation in the proceedings so that the Court could settle the matter comprehensively.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “From Belize’s perspective, we say make it do it one time. You know, make we do it one time. Bring Guatemala in the case because we know that we are firm. We know that the Sapodilla Cayes are for Belize, and let the court decide once and for all that it is for Belize. Let it not say, oh it’s not for Honduras and then leave that ambiguity there. Say one time it’s not for Honduras, it’s not for Guatemala it is for Belize. And I think that’s why it was important that Belize not object to Guatemala being a part of this case. I’m surprised that they attempted to be or have attempted to be a part of this case. So the point is that we know we are firm in our position. We’re sure of our case and we’re sure that we can argue those matters before the court. And as you can see yesterday, it is very concise, it is very legal, and it is one that anybody can understand.”
Usher maintained that Belize remains confident in its case and believes the Court will ultimately affirm that sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes belongs to Belize.
English (US) ·