The Sapodilla Cayes - it's the southernmost range of islands in Belize - and it is claimed by both Guatemala and Honduras.
In 2022, Belize asked the the International Court of Justice, to, quote, "adjudge and declare that, as between Belize and Honduras, Belize is sovereign over the Sapodilla Cayes."
In 2023, Guatemala said it also wanted to be heard in the matter and tonight's news is that the International Court of Justice has decided to hear Guatemala's application for permission to intervene in the Belize versus Honduras case. Oral proceedings in that case is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 24, 2025.
Today, the Senator with responsibility for Belize's Two Cases Currently Before the ICJ discussed the meaning and implications of this development:
Jules Vasquez
"Did you all expect that the court would agree that the Guatemalans also be heard in this matter?"
Eamon Courtenay, Responsibility for Belize's 2 Cases Before the ICJ
"Well, the answer is yes we had considered it and considered it at length."
"The court has now set a date for that to happen later this year in October. And, we, as I said, we have no objection to it being heard, but I suspect that we will have to wait to see what Honduras says in its submissions to the court. And, then we can decide whether or not we will, you know, put any strong arguments one way or the other."
"Basically, I think the position that we will adopt is to assist the court as best we can. We want the substantive case to move forward. Whether Guatemala is allowed to intervene or not, we want the matter to move forward as we do the case between Guatemala and Belize over the territory claimed by Guatemala."
Jules Vasquez
"How will this slow down the already extended or prolonged schedule of hearings and filings that we are in the middle of?"
Eamon Courtenay
"Good question. So, well, we're not, we're not in the middle. We have completed the filings, and the Guatemala Belize case is ready for hearing and awaiting a date for hearing. The Honduras case, specifically, is not joined to the Guatemala Belize case. However, for obvious reasons, they should be heard together. What the lawyers, international lawyers have told us. And what we're hoping for is that the court would set a date for Guatemala, Belize, let's say, in one particular month, next year or the year after or whenever they set it. And then the Belize, Honduras, would they set, let's say, a week or two after, so that all the arguments and the two cases, because they are connected, would be heard by the court around the same time and a judgment, hopefully, in each case, be handed down around the same time."
"So, I would assume that when the court hears this in October, they will decide fairly shortly thereafter, one way or the other, Guatemala, no, because all their arguments about "your right to sovereignty" have already been submitted in the case between Guatemala against Belize, they can't put in a different argument in this case."
"It will be up to the court. I would expect that by the hopefully by the end of the year, they would make a determination one way or the other. And then depending on that, we would know what the next step would be."
Jules Vasquez
"How much turns on Guatemala if we get an adverse judgment on the cayes, on that range of keys?"
"How much turns on that?"
Eamon Courtenay
"I think, first of all, we strongly believe - and and I say this from an informed position - that the evidence in respect of sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes and the Cayes in that area is heavily weighted in favor of Belize."
