What is belize-guatemala border?

The Belize-Guatemala border is a modern-day example of a disputed international border. Guatemala has long claimed ownership of over half of Belize's territory and has refused to recognize the country as a sovereign nation. This has led to tension between the two countries and occasionally flared into military conflict.

The border itself stretches for around 266 km (165 miles), running from the Gulf of Honduras in the east to the Rio Hondo in the west. It includes the Sarstoon River, which has been the site of numerous incidents between the Guatemalan and Belizean militaries.

In 2008, both countries signed the Special Agreement, also known as the compromis, which established a path towards resolving the border dispute. This led to the establishment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the final arbiter in the dispute.

In 2019, a national referendum was held in Belize to determine whether the country should submit the dispute to the ICJ. The majority of voters approved the proposal, and now the issue will be decided by the court.

The Belize-Guatemala border remains a sensitive and politically charged issue, but there are hopes that a peaceful resolution can be reached through the legal process.