By Belize Live News Staff: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced upcoming hearings to consider Guatemala’s request to intervene in the ongoing case between Belize and Honduras over sovereignty of the Sapodilla Cayes, scheduled from November 24 to 26, 2025, in The Hague.
The case, first initiated by Belize in 2022, seeks a judicial declaration that the Sapodilla Cayes—part of Belize’s southern maritime territory—are lawfully under Belizean sovereignty. However, Guatemala has now requested permission to join the case, asserting that its pending territorial and maritime dispute with Belize also involves claims over the same group of islands.
Guatemala’s request, filed in December 2023, cites Article 62 of the ICJ Statute, which allows a state to intervene in a case if it has a legal interest that could be affected by the Court’s ruling. Guatemala argues that a judgment on the Belize-Honduras dispute may impact its claims in the Guatemala v. Belize case, which has been ongoing since 2019.
Belizean legal experts and diplomats are closely monitoring the proceedings. According to foreign affairs sources, Belize remains confident in its position and will continue to uphold its rights under international law. The hearings mark another chapter in Belize’s diplomatic and legal efforts to defend its territorial integrity before the world’s highest court.
