3 days ago
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Belize is responding on both military and diplomatic fronts to the reported entry of a Guatemalan aircraft into its airspace. Defence officials have reviewed the flight, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is engaging Guatemala through official channels. Defence Ministry CEO Francis Usher says national security considerations prevent him from revealing every step Belize has taken or the full extent of its dialogue with Guatemala.
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Defence and Border Security: “We immediately launched an investigation into the type of aircraft, into the altitude, the air speed, everything like that. Based on the type of aircraft, we discerned very early on that it was not an attack aircraft. In terms of our military lines of communication and in terms of the official lines of communication that we utilize in cases like this, I wouldn’t be able to divulge much information there, but we became aware shortly after they entered or upon entering our airspace. We began to make our necessary checks, confirmatory checks, and thereafter we took our necessary action. But we, whereas we don’t respond to social media posts or informal information, we respond to the facts and we, our entire argument is based on fact. And we have the facts that they did enter and violate our airspace for an hour and 10 minutes last night. We do one launch investigation to confirm exactly what’s happening and then we take necessary action. I don’t want to get into the details of the necessary action because I don’t want to put the entire playbook on the table because there are things that are that are sensitive.”
The incident has also brought Belize’s ability to defend its territory into focus. CEO Usher was asked how the country would respond if that ability were ever tested.
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Defence and Border Security: “We have several courses of action that we take in various situations. We do quite often what’s called war gaming, which is when we look at various different scenarios, what could occur and what are our responses, the most likely, the most dangerous. We war game these things and we have several options available to us.”
Oscar Arnold, CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “We have been in discussions because we understood that coming closer to getting an ICJ resolution that we would be experiencing more activity, the level of activities would be increased. I am not a military expert, but I am sure that CEO Usher and the people within our security apparatus have these plans in place in how to defend territory. Obviously, they can’t make that known or the aspects of those plans known because that is something you’d be giving away military secrets.”
Reporter: We are concerned and I feel like, like while I understand for national security reasons, CEO Usher cannot divulge, you know, who this dialogue is taking place, but I respect that. But we would want to know, all right where do we go from here? We understand there’s protocol, we understand that there’s process, but we need answers. What do we tell the Belizean people?
Oscar Arnold, CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “But then you’re contradicting yourself if you’re saying that you understand the protocols but then don’t have patience enough for the government authorities and your officials.”
The flight comes as Belize and Guatemala prepare for oral hearings in their territorial dispute before the International Court of Justice in February.
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