The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has acknowledged that the Republic of Guatemala is seeking permission to intervene in the ongoing legal proceedings between Belize and Honduras concerning sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes. Guatemala, having filed its application on December 1, asserts a longstanding claim of sovereignty over the Sapodillas, a cluster of islands also claimed by both Belize and Honduras.

Belize initiated the proceedings against Honduras on November 16, 2022, requesting the Court to declare its sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes. Guatemala contends that Belize’s submissions in this case overlap with the Guatemala/Belize case, where both countries claim sovereignty over the same territory.

Guatemala’s application aims to safeguard its rights over the Sapodilla Cays and inform the Court about the nature and extent of its rights, potentially affected by the current case’s outcome. The Republic of Guatemala seeks to ensure that the Court’s decision does not prejudice its legal rights and interests.

Despite the absence of a jurisdictional link between Guatemala and Honduras, Guatemala argues that its intervention is warranted under Article 62 of the ICJ’s Statute, emphasizing its interest of a legal nature potentially affected by the Court’s decision.

The ICJ has invited Belize and Honduras to provide written observations on Guatemala’s application. The historical context of the dispute traces back to Belize’s initiation of proceedings, asserting its sovereignty over the Sapodilla Cayes based on international law and citing the American Treaty on Pacific Settlement and the Statute of the Court as the basis for the Court’s jurisdiction.

The Court has set the time-limits for filing memorials, with Belize and Honduras expected to submit their respective documents by May 2 and December 4, 2023. The case underscores the complexity of territorial disputes and the intricacies involved when multiple nations claim sovereignty over a contested region.