Belize's British Military Presence: Past And Present

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, gained independence from Britain in 1981. However, British troops have remained in the country in some capacity ever since. The British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) is a British Army garrison in Belize used primarily for jungle warfare training. In 2021, the UK government announced that Belize would become a 'land hub', which could mean more soldiers being based in the country for longer periods.

British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB)

The British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) is the successor to the former British Forces Belize. It is the name given to the current British Army Garrison in Belize. The unit is based in Price Barracks, which is also home to the Belize Defence Force (BDF). The barracks are located near Belize International Airport, in Ladyville, around 8 miles northwest of Belize City.

BATSUB is primarily used for jungle warfare training, with access to over 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 sq mi) of jungle terrain, provided by the Belizean government. The unit is manned by 12 permanent staff and employs more than 100 local civilians. It carries out up to five dismounted close-combat exercises per year, of varying sizes, and hosts the final exercise of the British Army Platoon Commander's Battle Course, which runs three times annually.

The jungle environment provides a challenging and austere training area, giving soldiers the opportunity to learn survival, living, and fighting skills in a jungle setting. The dense vegetation limits lines of sight and arcs of fire but provides ample opportunity for camouflage and fortification-building. Training in this environment requires troops to be at the top of their game.

In addition to training, BATSUB has also been involved in providing aid and rescuing stranded locals following natural disasters, such as Hurricane Eta in 2020.

Guatemala's claim to Belize

The dispute can be traced back to colonial documents, first between the United Kingdom and Spain, and later between the United Kingdom, on behalf of British Honduras (now Belize), and independent Guatemala. During the late 1600s and throughout the 1700s, Britain and Spain signed several treaties regarding territories in the Americas. Both nations agreed that the territory of modern-day Belize was under Spanish sovereignty, although British settlers could use the land in specific areas and for specific purposes. The area was never fully under British or Spanish rule at this time, and British settlers continually expanded far past the boundaries set by the treaties. When the Spanish Empire fell, Guatemala claimed that it inherited Spain's sovereign rights over the territory.

In 1859, Britain and Guatemala signed the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty regarding the disputed area. The treaty stated that Guatemala would recognise British sovereignty over the region and formed the modern-day boundary lines of Belize. The treaty also included an article about building a mutually beneficial road, although this never came to fruition. In the late 1930s, Guatemala renewed its claims on the area, using the broken promise of the road as justification for the 1859 treaty to be void.

In 1946, Guatemala officially tried to declare the 1859 treaty null and void. Britain suggested going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve their differences, but Guatemala rejected this. After years of failed negotiations, Guatemala finally accepted the possibility of going to court. In 2019, Guatemala voted to send the matter to the ICJ, and Belize had until 2022 to respond before the court decides who the country belongs to.

The UK's 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review

The UK government committed to investing £178 billion in equipment and support for the three defence services up to 2025, representing about 20% of the 10-year budget period. This included a range of investments in new equipment and capabilities, such as:

• Doubling the planned investment in Special Forces equipment and purchasing advanced communications equipment and weapons.
• Investing £1.9 billion in cyber capabilities and developing satellite communications and space-based surveillance capabilities.
• Purchasing at least two Airbus Zephyr high-altitude UAVs.
• Reducing the number of nuclear warheads to no more than 180 by the mid-2020s.
• Servicing and crewing both Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, modifying one for amphibious operations, and ensuring one carrier is always available.
• Continuing the Royal Navy's maintenance of 19 frigates and destroyers, with a long-term goal of expanding the fleet.
• Building a new class of "at least five" lighter, flexible, general-purpose frigates, known as the Type 31 frigate, to ensure the Royal Navy has at least 13 frigates in service.
• Constructing a new class of ballistic missile submarines, the Dreadnought class, to replace the four Vanguard-class submarines by the early 2030s.
• Ordering two additional River-class patrol vessels to achieve a fleet of up to six by 2025, with three Batch 2 River-Class ships replacing the older Batch 1 ships.
• Continuing with the plan to build four Tide-class tankers, along with three Solid Support Ships.
• Keeping both Albion-class landing platform docks and all three Bay-class landing ship docks in service while confirming the decommissioning of HMS Ocean.
• Ensuring the existence of 12 mine countermeasures vessels in Joint Force 2025 and decommissioning the three oldest Sandown-class minehunters.
• Increasing the manning levels for the Gibraltar Squadron.
• Further investigating the role of Type 45 destroyers in ballistic missile defence.

The SDSR also announced personnel increases of 300-400, the formation of two additional Eurofighter Typhoon squadrons, and the commitment to ordering 138 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, with 24 available for deployment on the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers by 2023. Additionally, the review confirmed the continued service of the third Tornado GR4 Squadron until 2018, with the remaining two squadrons having an out-of-service date of 2019.

In terms of Belize, the 2015 SDSR is significant. Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, gained independence from Britain in 1981. However, the British Army maintained a presence, known as British Forces Belize or 'BritForBel', to deter potential invasion from Guatemala, which claims Belize as its own. In 1994, British Forces Belize withdrew, leaving only a small number of personnel. The remaining forces were restructured as the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB), primarily used for jungle warfare training.

In 2010, as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the UK government announced plans to mothball the BATSUB facility. However, in 2015, reports indicated increased usage of the base, and in November 2015, the UK government reversed its earlier decision and announced the re-establishment of BATSUB as part of the 2015 SDSR. This decision was likely influenced by rising tensions between Belize and Guatemala.

The 2015 SDSR's commitment to maintaining a presence in Belize was further reinforced by the 2021 Integrated Review, which designated Belize as a "land hub," suggesting the potential for more regular and longer deployments of British personnel to the country.

The Belize Defence Force (BDF)

The history of the military in Belize dates back to 1817, when the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer organisation, was founded. Over the years, the military force in Belize has had several different names, reflecting the changing political landscape of the country. The BDF in its current form was founded in 1978, following the disbanding of the Belize Volunteer Guard and the Police Special Force.

The BDF consists of a Service/Support Battalion, two Regular Battalions, and one Volunteer Battalion. The First Infantry Battalion was established in 1993, following the British government's decision to withdraw its forces from Belize and hand over the country's defence to the Belizeans. The battalion is equipped with small arms, a transportation fleet, and its own logistics and signalers. It operates across the country, alternating between the south and north.

The Second Infantry Battalion, formed in 1994, is a combination of male and female soldiers. It initially consisted of three Infantry Companies: Sierra, Alpha, and Echo Company. The Battalion's logo and flag were designed by members of the Battalion, incorporating the colours of all the companies. The Battalion Bird is the Jabiru, chosen for its versatility, overview of situations, wide wingspan, and ability to work in any terrain and condition.

In addition to the infantry battalions, the BDF also includes the Air Wing, formed in 1983 and based at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. The Air Wing's main tasks include reconnaissance, search and rescue, aerial resupply, and troop transport. They also assist the police in drug interdiction and anti-smuggling operations and support the Maritime Wing. The Air Wing has a variety of aircraft, including Britten-Norman Defenders, Ayres Thrush planes, and helicopters donated by Taiwan.

The BDF plays a crucial role in protecting Belize's sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions with neighbouring Guatemala, which claims Belize as its own. The BDF also collaborates with the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB), with thousands of British troops passing through each year for training in jungle warfare. This collaboration strengthens the bonds between Belize and the United Kingdom, with the British presence providing a sense of peace and support for the Belizean people.

The UK's relationship with Belize

The UK and Belize have a close relationship that dates back to the 18th century when Britain first began to colonise the region. The territory, then known as British Honduras, was the subject of conflict with Spain, which repeatedly attacked British settlers in the region. In 1798, the Battle of St. George's Caye culminated in a decisive British victory, reducing the threat of Spanish attacks. British Honduras became a Crown Colony in 1862 and remained so until 1964 when it became a self-governing colony.

In the early 1960s, Britain maintained control of defence, internal security, foreign affairs, and public service in British Honduras. However, the process of decolonisation in the region presented challenges, particularly due to the neighbouring country of Guatemala's claims over the territory. Negotiations between Britain and Guatemala over Belize's future failed, and the matter was taken to the United Nations (UN). The UN passed a resolution supporting Belize's territorial integrity and called for its independence, which was granted by Britain on September 21, 1981.

Despite independence, Britain retained a military presence in Belize, known as British Forces Belize (BFB) or 'BritForBel', to protect the country from the ongoing threat of invasion by Guatemala. During the first decade of Belize's independence, the British forces consisted of an Army battalion and a Royal Air Force flight of Harrier jets. Britain also trained and strengthened the Belize Defence Force (BDF) to enhance the country's defence capabilities.

In the 1990s, the British forces in Belize underwent a significant reorganisation. The BFB was disbanded in 1994, and most British personnel left the country. The remaining troops focused on training and established the British Army Training and Support Unit Belize (BATSUB). BATSUB provided a valuable opportunity for the British Army to train in jungle warfare over an extensive area of challenging terrain. It also facilitated skills exchange and joint exercises between the British and Belizean armed forces.

In 2010, the British government initially announced plans to mothball the BATSUB facilities as part of a defence review. However, in 2015, it reversed this decision and re-established the facility, citing rising tensions between Belize and Guatemala. The reopening of BATSUB reaffirmed Britain's commitment to preserving Belize's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Today, the UK and Belize continue to maintain a close relationship. Belize, as a Commonwealth Realm, recognises Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. The UK is also the largest supplier of military equipment to the BDF. The presence of British troops in Belize not only enhances security but also stimulates economic growth through job creation and revenue generation.

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