By Belize Live News Staff: Jose Mallea, a former White House and State Department staffer and now managing partner at Forward Global Miami, says the rules of engagement between Washington and the Western Hemisphere have changed.
In his opinion piece, Mallea claims the Trump administration is applying what he calls a “reliability standard”, assessing whether countries are dependable partners based on internal governance, rule of law, and transparency.
He points to Belize as an example of how domestic disputes can raise concerns abroad. According to Mallea, ongoing telecom controversies, port litigation, and perceived gaps in free zone oversight may be triggering scrutiny from U.S. policymakers.
Mallea argues that in today’s geopolitical climate, credibility is currency, and countries that fail to demonstrate institutional strength risk losing investment opportunities and diplomatic goodwill.
He adds that Belize still has an opportunity to reinforce its stability and reliability through stronger regulatory independence and clearer governance practices.
