Under Secretary Zeya’s Remarks at a Joint Press Availability with Belize Foreign Minister Fonseca

As prepared.

Thank you, Foreign Minister Fonseca, for the invigorating discussion on U.S.-Belize priorities and shared commitments.

Over the last few days, I had excellent, wide-ranging meetings with Prime Minister Briceño, Minister of Home Affairs Musa, Minister of Defense Marin, National Security Director Del Cid, along with other senior officials and the Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children. We also engaged dynamic leaders from civil society and the National Women’s Commission and the National AIDS Commission.

I want to extend sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Briceño and Foreign Minister Fonseca for their close collaboration and our growing partnership in Belize and throughout the region. The United States is grateful for our flourishing relationship, anchored in shared commitments to democratic values and respect for human rights. We are also proud to be the leading trading partner and source of investment funds for Belize.

The United States views Belize as a vital partner in shared priorities, including humane migration management, human-centered civilian security, democracy, and human rights – all topics of critical importance throughout my engagements here.

Managing irregular migration and supporting solutions to forced displacement from neighboring countries is a critical area of our bilateral and regional cooperation. I commend Belize for its leadership advancing humane migration throughout the hemisphere and its groundbreaking efforts to support displaced persons within the country, including through the Amnesty Program. And I particularly want to thank our dedicated UN partners who are supporting these efforts.

Human-centered civilian security was also a central theme in all our discussions. The United States invested $3 million this past year to help

make a difference in areas Belizeans care about: improving citizen security, strengthening the justice sector, and securing Belize’s borders. In fact, since 2025, we’ve provided more than $57 million in security, economic, health, and humanitarian assistance to this great nation and I’ve seen the dividends of this progress.

We also welcome Belize’s principled stand as one of 12 countries recognizing Taiwan. This cooperation with Taiwan is benefiting the Belizean people, as seen in the recent Global Cooperation and Training Framework event focused on gender-based violence that brought together advocates from Taiwan, Belize, and the United States, highlighting how we can work together on global issues and bolster international support.

In conversations with courageous human rights and civil society leaders over the last few days, I heard directly about both progress made and challenges faced by marginalized groups in Belize. Their efforts to combat gender-based violence and attain gender equality and equal opportunity for all is an inspiration for the Western Hemisphere, including the United States. To this end, we are resolute in sustaining support for the Belizean LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized groups. Civil society is vital in these efforts, and we are grateful for their voices and perspectives.

Now, I will turn it back over to the Foreign Minister for any final comments before we open the floor for questions. Thank you.