Belize Files Written Response to Guatemala in Sapodilla Cayes Case

Belize has filed its written observations with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in response to Guatemala’s written statement concerning sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes, marking another step in the long-running territorial dispute involving Belize, Honduras and Guatemala.

The Government of Belize submitted the documents to the Registry of the ICJ on September 21, the deadline set by the Court for Belize and Honduras to respond to Guatemala’s written statement. Belize’s submission consists of two volumes — the written observations and a separate volume of annexes. Honduras also filed its written observations on the same day.

The filings form part of the case officially titled Sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes/Cayos Zapotillos (Belize v. Honduras: Guatemala intervening).

Belize originally brought the case against Honduras on November 16, 2022, asking the ICJ to determine sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes, which Honduras refers to as the Cayos Zapotillos. The Court describes the cayes as being located in the Gulf of Honduras, at the southern end of the Belize Barrier Reef.

The case became more complicated when Guatemala sought permission to intervene. Guatemala filed its application on December 1, 2023, arguing that its legal interests could be affected by the Court’s decision on sovereignty over the cayes.

On March 19, 2026, the ICJ unanimously allowed Guatemala to intervene, but specifically as a non-party. The Court said Guatemala’s participation would be limited to the question of sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes, including fishing rights in the surrounding waters. Guatemala therefore does not become a party to the Belize-Honduras case.

The Court’s decision followed public hearings in November 2025 on Guatemala’s application to intervene. The hearings were held at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Under Article 85 of the Court’s Rules, once Guatemala was permitted to intervene, it was required to submit a written statement, after which Belize and Honduras were given an opportunity to respond.

The Court initially set May 19, 2026, as the deadline for Guatemala’s written statement and July 20 for Belize and Honduras to submit observations. Following a request from Honduras for additional time, the Court extended the deadlines on April 16. Guatemala was given until June 19 to file its statement, while Belize and Honduras were given until September 21 to respond.

Guatemala subsequently presented its written arguments concerning its legal interests in the cayes. Guatemala has maintained that the Sapodilla Cayes form part of its territorial, insular and maritime claim against Belize. The Guatemalan government has also stressed that the Sapodilla Cayes case is legally separate from its broader territorial dispute with Belize, which is also before the ICJ.

Belize’s latest filing does not resolve the sovereignty question. It places Belize’s response to Guatemala’s arguments formally before the Court as the proceedings move toward the oral stage.

The next major step will be public hearings on the substance of the Sapodilla Cayes dispute. Guatemala's Foreign Ministry said the ICJ has scheduled those hearings for March 1 to 5, 2027. The hearings will follow the separate oral proceedings in the Guatemala-Belize territorial case, scheduled for February 22 to 26, 2027.

Belize was represented in the September 21 filing by Mariana Verde, Chief Operations Officer of the Office of Belize’s Agent to the ICJ within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. She was accompanied by Catherine Drummond, a member of Belize’s legal team.

The ICJ, based at the Peace Palace in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and settles legal disputes submitted to it by states in accordance with international law.