It's been four days since Nicolas Maduro and his wife were kidnapped by the US. He was taken to New York where he was arraigned on narco-terrorism charges.
But what is Belize's true position?
On Monday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a very moderate statement that said, quote, "We call on all parties to exercise restraint, to respect international law, and to engage in a constructive dialogue to resolve the crisis in Venezuela within the framework of international law." End quote.
Today the Foreign Minister took it a small step forward - stating that Belize rejects any attempt at exercising domination over other countries. He also added that they've been monitoring the situation along with CARICOM and SICA.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of FAFT
"Belize, as you know, for several months, we've been monitoring the situation along with our regional partners, both in Caricom and in SICA, and the wider Latin America as well. So Belize has consistently said, listen, we are concerned about the military buildup in the Caribbean Sea. We want to ensure that the Caribbean remains a zone of peace. So obviously we are very, very concerned about the events that took place over the last few days. Where you had the US military and other operatives of the United States government going into Venezuela. And detaining and capturing both President Maduro and his wife and taking them back to the United States. We have engaged with Caricom and SICA to discuss our collective response to this matter. That is ongoing. But obviously Belize is very, very concerned. Small states like Belize have a vested interest in global order that respects international law, that respects multilateralism, that respects the UN charter. We rely on those principles for very existence. So it's very, very important for the small states like Belize to make it very clear that we reject any efforts, any attempts, any actions aimed at eroding those fundamental principles, of respect for international law, respect for sovereignty, respect for territorial integrity, you know, because those are the basis on which small states are able to grow and survive."
"We reject any efforts, any actions aimed at, you know, any country exercising domination over any region of the world, over any other country. That is not in the interest, we think of the global world order. It's not in the interests of peace. It's not in the interests of economic development. So certainly that is Belize's position."
But was Belize restrained in its statement because of intimidation from the US? Is the government simply trying to stay in good standing with the global superpower? And what do the US's actions mean for Belize, with Guatemala's claim hanging over its head?
Here's what Fonseca said.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of FAFT
"Yeah, well, again, we it's not a question of what's to be gained by seeing certain things. It's about, you know, Belize making it very clear, as I have said today, and as we said in or in your statement, that we are concerned about the developments. We are going to work with our partners, to ensure that there is a proper response to what is taking place. You know, and at the end of the day, what we want is to ensure that the future of Venezuela is decided by the Venezuelan people. So we want to ensure that there's a return as quickly as possible to some constitutional order in Venezuela. And we're going to work through whatever means available, and to ensure that we add our voice to that effort to ensure that Venezuela is respected, the sovereignty of Venezuela is respected, and the future of Venezuela is determined by the will of the Venezuelan people."
Reporter:
"You're not calling for a Maduro's return on viewing it as a kidnaping?"
Francis Fonseca, Minister of FAFT
"I mean, no, we you know that again, that is something that, will have to be determined there. We have not been presented with any evidence, to support the allegations that have been made against Mr. Maduro and his wife, so Belize, we are not in a position to to comment on those things."
Courtney Menzies:
"What's your reaction to Trump's policy, one of his policy advisors who stated, we live in a real world that is governed by strength, by force, governed by power, especially in regards to us being claimed by a much more powerful nation, Guatemala."
Francis Fonseca, Minister of FAFT
"Yeah. Exactly that. That's the point I was making that we Belize, we have to always, always reject any effort, any attempts, to return to this global order where, as I said, economic power, military power determines, you know, whether or not you are able to do things, that is not in the interests of Belize, that is not in the interests of any of our Caricom partners or Central American partners. We are small states. So we rely on a global order, as I keep saying, that respects international law, respect sovereignty, respects territorial integrity. And as you rightly pointed out, Belize is in a unique position because we have a claim, an unfounded claim. But we have a claim nonetheless by a much larger neighbor with a much larger economy, a much larger military than Belize. So we have to be very, very clear about ensuring that that we reject any, any suggestion, that military power or economic power, gives you, somehow the right, to do what you want and to exercise control over any other region or any other country."
