Foreign relations of Belize
Template:Politics of BelizeBelize maintains 14 embassies to foreign countries, one consulate, and three missions to international organizations.[1] In 1990, Belize became a member of the Organization of American States, and the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
To strengthen its potential for economic and political development, Belize has sought to build closer ties with the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America to complement its historical ties to the English-speaking Caribbean states. Recent foreign policy initiatives include joining with the other Central American countries in signing the CONCAUSA Agreement on regional sustainable development and becoming a full member of the Central American Integration System (SICA). Belize is a member of CARICOM which was founded in 1973.
Diplomatic relations
[edit]List of countries with which Belize maintains diplomatic relations with:
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Africa
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 14 May 1997 |
|
Americas
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
8 January 1992 |
|
| File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada | November 1981 | See Belize–Canada relations
|
 Colombia |
15 February 1982 |
On 15 February 1982, formal relations were established. Colombia's embassy in Belize closed in 2002 in order to cut down on costs though the embassy of Colombia in El Salvador is also concurrent to Belize. On 17 April 2013, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister met with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia in order to strengthen relations.[39]
|
| File:Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala | 1991 | See Belize–Guatemala relations
Belize's principal external concern has been the dispute involving the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. Initially a dispute between formerly Spanish Guatemala and the United Kingdom's colony of British Honduras, Guatemala continued its claim after Belizean independence in 1981; it recognized its neighbour's independence one decade later, in 1991. The dispute remains unresolved.
|
| File:Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana | 1981 | See Belize–Guyana relations
|
| Error creating thumbnail: Mexico | 1981 | See Belize–Mexico relations
Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Belize were established in 1981.
|
 United States |
1981 | See Belize–United States relations
Belize-United States relations have traditionally been close and cordial. The United States is Belize's principal trading partner and major source of investment funds. It is also home to the largest Belizean community outside Belize, estimated to be 70,000 strong. Because Belize's economic growth and accompanying democratic political stability are important U.S. objectives, Belize benefits from the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative. As a member of CARICOM Belize strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 940 designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country agreed to contribute military personnel to the Multinational Task Force which restored the democratically elected Government of Haiti in October 1994 and to the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). Belize is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the American military (as covered under Article 98). International crime issues dominate the agenda of bilateral relations between the United States and Belize. The United States is working closely with the Government of Belize to fight illicit narcotics trafficking, and both governments seek to control the flow of illegal migrants to the United States through Belize. Belize and the United States brought into force a stolen vehicle treaty, an extradition treaty, and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between 2001 and 2003. The United States is the largest provider of economic assistance to Belize, contributing $2.5 million in various bilateral economic and military aid programs to Belize in FY 2006. Of this amount, nearly $500,000 was provided by the U.S. Military Liaison Office. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) closed its Belize office in August 1996 after a 13-year program during which USAID provided $110 million worth of development assistance to Belize. Belize still benefits from USAID regional programs. In addition, during the past 42 years, almost 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Belize. As of April 2007, the Peace Corps had 58 volunteers working in Belize. Until the end of 2002, Voice of America operated a medium-wave radio relay station in Punta Gorda that broadcast to the neighboring countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The U.S. military has a diverse and growing assistance program in Belize that included the construction and renovation of several schools and youth hostels, medical assistance programs, and drug reduction programs. Private North American investors continue to play a key role in Belize's economy, particularly in the tourism sector.
|
| File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay | 28 September 1987 |
|
| File:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela | 25 April 1989 |
|
Asia
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 China |
Belize does not have Diplomatic recognition of China. See Foreign relations of China. |
In June 2020, Belize openly opposed the Hong Kong national security law[44] |
| File:Flag of India.svg India | See Belize–India relations | |
| File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel | 11 March 1985 (Diplomatic relations severed 15 November 2023) |
|
| File:Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine |
Under the previous premiership of Said Musa, Belize remained a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights and shunned relations with Israel due to the latter's military and intelligence support for Guatemala.[50] | |
| File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea | 14 April 1987 |
Belize and South Korea established diplomatic relation on April 14, 1987. The two nations have good relations.[51] |
| File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan | 1989 | See Belize–Taiwan relations
Belize recognizes the Republic of China (ROC, commonly known as Taiwan)[52] as the sole legitimate government of China. Relations were established between Belize and the ROC in 1989.
|
 Turkey |
Oct. 29, 1981[53] | See Belize–Turkey relations
|
Europe
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria | 15 February 1994 | |
| File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | 21 July 2000 |
|
| File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic | 15 February 1994 | |
| File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark | 15 November 1991[61] |
|
| File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia | 5 May 1999 | |
| File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | 19 June 1997 | |
 France |
| |
 Germany |
1982 | |
| File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | 4 September 1986 |
|
| File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary |
Hungary is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City.[72] | |
| File:Flag of the Vatican City.svg Holy See | 9 March 1983 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 March 1983.[2]
|
| Error creating thumbnail: Italy | 1 October 1982 | |
| File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway |
Since 2011, Belize and Norway have an Agreement concerning the exchange of information relating to tax matters they had signed in 2010.[75] | |
| File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia | 25 June 1991 |
Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1991. Belize immediately recognized Russia as the USSR's successor after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City and an honorary consulate in Belize City. |
| File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia |
Slovakia is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City.[76] | |
| File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia |
Belize is represented in Slovenia through its embassy in Vienna.[77] | |
| File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain | 13 January 1989 | See Belize–Spain relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 January 1989.[2] |
| File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden |
Sweden is represented in Belize through its embassy in Stockholm and an honorary consulate in Belmopan.[78] | |
| File:Flag of Switzerland.svg Switzerland |
| |
| File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom | 21 September 1981 | See Belize–United Kingdom relations
Belize established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms.
The UK governed Belize from 1783 to 1981, when Belize achieved full independence. Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic Co-operation Pact,[82] Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement.[83] Bilaterally the two countries have a Defence Cooperation Agreement,[84] and an Investment Agreement.[85] |
Oceania
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Australia |
| |
| File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand |
New Zealand is accredited to Belize from its embassy in Mexico City.[87] |
Belize and the Commonwealth of Nations
[edit]Belize has been a member state of the Commonwealth since 1981, when it became an independent Commonwealth realm.
King Charles III as King of Belize is viceregally represented by the Governor-General of Belize.
Multilateral membership
[edit]Belize is a member of the following multilateral bodies.
- The Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
- Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
- Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA)
- Caribbean Community (Caricom)
- Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
- Caribbean Postal Union (CPU)
- Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)
- Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
- CARIFORUM
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Group of 77 (G-77)
- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
- International Development Association (IDA)
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- Intelsat (nonsignatory user)
- Interpol
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- International Organization for Migration (IOM) (observer)
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
- Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Latin American Economic System (LAES)
- The United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC)
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- Universal Postal Union (UPU)
- World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Belize embassy". mfa.gov.bz. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Diplomatic Relations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Diplomatic relations between Belize and ..." United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "High Commission here underscores importance of Guyana – Belize envoy". 30 July 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ↑ "Embajador de Belice presenta copias de estilo al Canciller Denis Moncada" (in Spanish). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ↑ "Formal diplomatic relations list" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ↑ Daily Report: Latin America. 82. United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1982. p. 56.
- ↑ Latin America Report. 59/85. Executive Office of the President], Federal Broadcast Information Service, Joint Publications Research Service. 1985. p. 69.
- ↑ Latin America Report, No. 2. 7 March 1983. p. 24. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ↑ Near East/South Asia Report No. 2840. United States Joint Publications Research Service. 24 October 1983. p. 137. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ↑ "History of Relations between China and Latin American and Caribbean Countries". World Scientific Publishing: 28. 15 July 2014. doi:10.1142/9789811252525_bmatter. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ↑ "Suleyman Gokce is Turkey's new Ambassador to Belize". 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ de Béthencourt, Marcos Fernández (2019). La orden de Malta: Estatuto Jurídico internacional (in Spanish). Editorial Sanz Y Torres. pp. 302–309.
- ↑ "The Republic of the Philippines and Belize celebrate 20 years of formal diplomatic relations today, May 04! 🇵🇭🤝🇧🇿". Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines) on Facebook. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ↑ "Государство Белиз сегодня празднует День Независимости". Belta.by (in Russian). 21 September 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ↑ "Belize Diplomatic and Consular List: Order of Accreditation and Precedence". Yumpu. January 2010. p. 143. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ↑ "List of countries with which Lithuania has established diplomatic relations". Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ↑ "Bilateral relations". Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ↑ "Establishment of Diplomatic Relations - Belize and Bahrain". 14 December 2005. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kazakhstan establishes diplomatic relations with Belize". 11 November 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Belize establishes diplomatic relations with Indonesia and Palestine". 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ↑ "Belize and Pakistan establish diplomatic relations". 23 October 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ↑ Gëzim Visoka (2018). Acting Like a State: Kosovo and the Everyday Making of Statehood. Abingdon: Routledge. pp. 219–221. ISBN 9781138285330.
- ↑ "Belize*: Diplomatic Missions to Montenegro and visa regimes for citizens of Montenegro". gov.me. Government of Montenegro. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ↑ "Presentation of Credentials". 18 March 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ↑ "At CHOGM2022, FM Eamon Courtenay and Amb. Raychelle Omamo, Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, established diplomatic relations between Belize and Kenya. Belize seeks to expand its engagement with Africa and UN agencies and multilateral organisations in Nairobi". 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ↑ "Strengthening relations with Africa Belize establishes diplomatic relations with The Gambia". 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ↑ "Uzbekistan establishes diplomatic relations with Belize". kun.uz. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ↑ "On the margins of UNGA 2024 FM Fonseca and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of Namibia signed a communique establishing diplomatic relations between both nations". Belize MFAFT. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ↑ "On the sidelines of #UNGA2024 FM Fonseca and the Minister of Justice of Palau, signed the communique establishing diplomatic relations between both nations". 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ↑ "Kyrgyz FM meets with representatives of OIC, Latin American and Caribbean countries". Kabar.kg. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ↑ @CotedivoireOnu (14 May 2026). "#JOINT #COMMUNIQUÉ 🇨🇮🇧🇿 Côte d'Ivoire continues to expand its network of international partnerships with the signing of a Joint Communiqué establishing, this time, diplomatic relations with #Belize, on 14 May 2026 in New York" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Belize". Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ "Foreign Representatives in South Africa". Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ "South African Representation Abroad". Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ "Biblioteca Digital de Tratados - Usted se encuentra en la página de inicio".
- ↑ "Biblioteca Digital de Tratados - Usted se encuentra en la página de inicio".
- ↑ "Representaciones Argentinas en el Exterior | Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ "Belice" (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ↑ High Commission of Belize in Georgetown
- ↑ Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Belize
- ↑ Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Guyana
- ↑ "EMBAJADA DE MÉXICO EN BELICE". embamex.sre.gob.mx.
- ↑ Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Belize suspends ties with Israel over 'unceasing indiscriminate bombing' in Gaza". The Times of Israel. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ↑ Madsen, Wayne (18 July 2011). "Israeli Math". Opinion Maker. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ↑ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea". www.mofa.go.kr.
- ↑ In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and set up a provisional capital in Taipei. The CPC established the People's Republic. As such, the political status of the ROC and the legal status of Taiwan (alongside the territories currently under ROC jurisdiction) are in dispute. In 1971, the United Nations gave the China seat to the PRC instead of the ROC: most states recognize the PRC to be the sole legitimate representative of all China, and the UN classifies Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". The ROC has de facto relations with most sovereign states. A significant political movement within Taiwan advocates Taiwan independence. The Republic of China participates in the World Health Organization and a number of non-UN international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, International Olympic Committee and others under a variety of pseudonyms, most commonly Chinese Taipei.
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 "Relations between Turkey and Belize".
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 "Relations between Turkey and Belize / Rep. Of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ "Министерство на външните работи - Намери посолство". Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Home - MFA".
- ↑ "BELIZE - Embassy of the Czech Republic in MEXICO".
- ↑ "BELIZE - Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Orange Walk Town".
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.mfa.gov.bz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2022.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Belize Consulate - Consulate of Belize". www.belizeconsulate.dk.
- ↑ "Danmark i Belize". Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ↑ "Diplomaatiliste suhete (Taas)kehtestamise kronoloogia | Välisministeerium". Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ "Belize | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 11 August 2014.
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 "Countries and regions: Belize - Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: Entering Finland and travelling abroad: Belize". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ "La France au Salvador / Francia en El Salvador". sv.ambafrance.org.
- ↑ "Federal Foreign Office".
- ↑ "Embajada de Alemania Guatemala - General Information for BELIZE". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 "Greece's Bilateral Relations".
- ↑ "Greece". Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ↑ "Government - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Missions". Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belize" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ↑ "Mexico - New Italian honorary consul appointed in Playa del Carmen". Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ↑ "Agreement Norway - Belize - regjeringen.no". February 2011.
- ↑ "List of Diplomatic Missions of the Slovak Republic - Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20161224031449/http://www.mzz.gov.si/fileadmin/pageuploads/foto/1608/DL_19_August_2016.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Belize | SwedenAbroad". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ 79.0 79.1 "Bilateral relations Switzerland–Belize".
- ↑ Diplomat Magazine (1 February 2016). "Belize". Diplomat Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "British High Commission Belmopan". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ↑ Template:Cite x
- ↑ Partington, Richard (22 March 2019). "UK secures post-Brexit trade deal with group of Caribbean countries". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ↑ Miller, Phil; Kennard, Matt (4 February 2020). "Exclusive: Britain uses vast swashes of one the world's most biodiverse countries for military training — and pays nothing". Declassified UK. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ↑ "Belize - United Kingdom BIT (1982)". UN Trade and Development. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ↑ "Belize - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". Archived from the original on 24 May 2015.
- ↑ "Caribbean | New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
External links
[edit]- Guatemala Border
- GAR
- Other Documents
- Submission of Belize/Guatemala Case to ICJ in 2009
- Summary of Legal Opinion of 25 November 2008
- Belize/Guatemala ICJ Compromis Signed at OAS in Washington, D.C. on 8 December 2008
- Compromis
- Videos
- Photographs
- Belize Leading Counsel of 19 December 2008
- Dominican Republic
- Russia
- Belize
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/.
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