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Belize and UK Sign First Status of Forces Agreement Since ‘94
posted (September 19, 2018)
And while it is no defense guarantee or representatives of the Governments of both Belize and the UK today signed a revised Status of Forces Agreement.

That's the memorandum of understanding between the countries which allows the British Army Training and Support Unit Belize, BATSUB to remain in Belize. You'll remember that in October of 2015, BATSUB resumed its operations at full capacity after it had all but pulled out in 2011.

Today Security Minister John Saldivar signed a renewed MOU with the UK Minister of Defense, Rt. Honorable Mark Lancaster, who travelled to Belize just for the event. Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington acted as a sort of witness, and the media was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Belize City. We got a chance to speak with the UK Minister about the significance of BATSUB's continued presence in Belize:

Hon. Mark Lancaster - UK Minister for Armed Forces
"We are very proud of the long standing relationship that our 2 countries have had. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs said it goes back some 70 years and we have had BATSUB here in Belize now for many years. For us it is an incredible valuable training area where our soldiers can come and experience an environment which they simply don't normally get to do. That means if they are well placed, for example, if they are to get to participate in the United Nations missions which are of value to the whole world. But equally it means that we can work more closely with the Belize Defence Force. This is for mutual benefit as we conduct our training together and we learn from each other. That simply strengthen the long standing relationship that our two countries have had."

Reporter
"Can you give us tangible examples in which the cooperation strengthens the connection between the 2 forces?"

Hon. Mark Lancaster - UK Minister for Armed Forces
"Absolutely, our very presence here I think is significant. I know that having visited our troops yesterday to see the work that they are doing in some of the specific training that they are carrying out with the Belize Defence Force simply must be of mutual benefit, because this is where 2 professional forces are coming together, learning from each other and through that process becoming even more professional and even more effective."

Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"We've always had the UK Forces training here in Belize since as we've said they've been here since 70 years, but we have had an agreement that has been in place since 1994. That is the last time we did it and we felt that it needed to be modernized, it needed to be improved and the language needed to change in some respects to cover exactly how the UK Forces can and do operate here in Belize and that is the reason we have signed these two agreements. We know that it is going to help us tremendously. The UK has committed to maintaining their presence here in Belize through this training unit and we hope to see an increase in their presence for the purpose of training."

Reporter
"What areas our military benefit from this agreement?"

Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"Well, certainly cross-training in terms of our people being involved with the training of the UK Forces that are here. As well as in terms of physical space, physical equipment, buildings that may be residual from their presence here. We believe the training aspect of it especially with our people working along with the UK Forces is very important."

A press release from the Government of Belize says that the revised agreement sets out a new legal framework within which the UK Armed Forces will operate in Belize. This is the first revision of the Belize-UK Status of Forces Agreement since the original in 1994.

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