Military and naval commanders from Belize and Mexico have ended a “successful” meeting discussing a broad range of traditional security-related challenges, including drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, illegal migration and contraband.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Belize’s Ministry of National Defence and Border Security said that the discussions focussed on the critical role of the military in ensuring citizen security and fostering a stable environment for economic prosperity.
“Both countries expressed particular interest in the military’s capacity to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, especially in response to non-traditional security threats related to climate change, such as fighting wildfires, flood relief operations, and hurricane support operations,” the statement said.
It said that the three-day conference concluded with both countries “reiterating their commitment to share information and intelligence to close gaps within the border security system, and to conduct joint operations along maritime and terrestrial border regions of both countries to counter transnational organized crime.”
“The Ministry of National Defence and Border Security of Belize views Mexico’s Secretariat of Defence and Secretariat of the Navy as key partners in maintaining safe and secure borders for the benefit of citizens, the jurisdiction, and economic interests,” the statement added.
At the recently concluded 18th Border Commanders Conference between Belize and Mexico, Belize was represented by Colonel Anthony Velasquez, Deputy Commander of the Belize Defence Force, and Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard.
The Mexican delegation included Commanders from the Secretariat of Defence of Mexico and the Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico. —BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC)
