U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño on Monday, reaffirming the strength of the U.S.-Belize partnership and congratulating Briceño on his March 12 re-election victory.
According to a statement from State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio praised Belize for its “significant efforts” to counter illegal immigration, support regional security efforts in Haiti, and combat transnational organized crime. He specifically highlighted Belize’s participation in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti as a critical contribution to regional stability.
The two leaders also discussed ongoing concerns over tariffs and Belize’s engagement with both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Guatemala regarding the Sarstoon River territorial dispute. Secretary Rubio thanked Prime Minister Briceño for his government’s continued commitment to international diplomacy in resolving the matter peacefully.
Rubio also emphasized U.S. interest in bolstering economic ties, pledging to work with Briceño to improve the investment climate for American firms operating in Belize.
The call concluded with both leaders expressing their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas ranging from trade to regional security.
