The Great Divide: Exploring The Barrier Between Mexico And Belize

There is no wall between Mexico and Belize. The border between the two countries is 250km long and mostly follows the course of the Hondo River. The modern boundary was agreed upon in 1893 and finalised in 1897. While there is no wall, there are two official crossings with international bridges. The Belize–Mexico border is one of the lesser-used borders by Mexicans, but it has gained notoriety due to recent reports of drug trafficking.

The Belize-Mexico border is 250km long and was agreed in 1893

The border between Mexico and Belize was difficult to explore due to its remote location, particularly for the Mexican territory. The region's sparse population allowed the British colony of British Honduras, now Belize, to occupy the region. However, Mexico did not recognise British possession of the territory until the late nineteenth century. Mexico's desire to end arms smuggling from Belizean Maya supplied by rebels during the Caste War led to the government of Porfirio Diaz creating a Federal Territory that had previously belonged to the State of Yucatan. They later formed the Territory of Quintana Roo and decided to negotiate with the British government to fix the common border.

A treaty was signed in Mexico City on 8 July 1893, and an additional convention was added on 7 April 1897. The original treaty consisted of four articles: the first set the upper border, the second required the UK to stop arming Mayan rebels, the third outlined the obligation of both states to prevent Native Americans from encroaching into the territory of the neighbouring country, and the fourth required ratification of the treaty by the respective governments.

The border starts at Boca Bacalar Chico, a narrow channel that separates the southern tip of the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and Ambergris Caye. It then runs through Chetumal Bay in a broken line up to the mouth of the Hondo River. The Hondo River is followed through its deepest channel and then along its tributary, Blue Creek, until it reaches the meridian of Garbutt's Falls. From this point, the border runs directly south to 17° 49' N latitude, the border established between Mexico and Guatemala.

There are two official crossings with international bridges

The Belize–Mexico border is an international border that is 250 km (160 mi) long and predominantly follows the course of the Hondo River. The modern boundary was agreed upon in 1893 and finalized in 1897.

The border between Mexico and Belize was difficult to traverse due to its remote location, particularly for the Mexican territory. The region's sparse population allowed the British colony of British Honduras, now Belize, to occupy the area. However, Mexico did not recognize British possession of the territory until the late nineteenth century.

The border between Mexico and Belize currently has two official crossings with international bridges. The primary crossing is located between Subteniente Lopez in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Santa Elena in the Corozal District of Belize. It is approximately 16 km (10 mi) from Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo and the main city in the region. A new bridge connecting Belize and Mexico, located about 5 blocks west of the old bridge, was opened to the public on May 15, 2013.

The Subteniente Lopez International Bridge and the Chac-Temal International Bridge are the two international bridges connecting the two countries.

The border is one of the least-used by Mexicans

The Belize–Mexico border is 250 km (160 mi) long and predominantly follows the course of the Hondo River. It separates Belize from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The modern boundary was agreed upon in 1893 and finalised in 1897.

The border between Mexico and Belize was difficult to explore due to its remote location, particularly for Mexican territory. The region's sparse population allowed the British colony of British Honduras, now Belize, to occupy the region. However, Mexico did not recognise British possession of the territory until the late nineteenth century.

The Mexican government wanted to put an end to arms smuggling from Belizean Maya supplied by rebels during the Caste War. As a result, the government of Porfirio Diaz created a Federal Territory that had previously belonged to the State of Yucatan. They later formed the Territory of Quintana Roo and decided to negotiate with the British government to fix the common border.

Bilateral agreements between Mexico and Belize have been made to combat drug trafficking across the border.

There are bilateral agreements between Mexico and Belize to combat drug trafficking

There is no wall between Mexico and Belize. The border between the two countries is approximately 250 km (160 miles) long and mostly follows the Hondo River, separating Belize from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The modern boundary was agreed upon in 1893 and finalized in 1897.

In recent years, the border has gained notoriety due to reports of drug trafficking, with traffickers attracted by the relative isolation of the area. The problem has been exacerbated by increased economic activity and tourism, particularly on the Belizean side, as well as the establishment of a free trade zone and the construction of casinos in the Santa Elena area, which are banned in Mexico.

To combat this issue, bilateral agreements have been made between Mexico and Belize. Belize has also sought assistance from its allies, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to strengthen its military and police forces. The U.S.-led 'War on Drugs' in Mexico and Guatemala has resulted in a 'balloon effect,' causing illegal drug activities to shift to Belize.

Belize's response to the drug problem has mirrored that of the U.S., adopting a militarized approach. Initiatives such as the Belize National Anti-Drug Strategy aim to reduce drug demand and supply by 50% over a five-year period. However, the effectiveness of this hardline strategy has been questioned, as it has failed to yield lasting positive results in countries like Mexico and Guatemala.

As an alternative, it has been suggested that Belize could explore other options such as marijuana legalization, investing in social programs, and requesting additional financial support from its allies to address the drug problem through non-militaristic means.

Mexico has some fencing along its southern border with Guatemala

There is no wall between Mexico and Belize. The border between the two countries is 250 km (160 mi) long and mostly follows the course of the Hondo River. The modern boundary was agreed upon in 1893 and finalized in 1897. Currently, the border has two official crossings with international bridges.

However, Mexico does have some fencing along its southern border with Guatemala. The international border between Guatemala and Mexico measures 871 km (541 mi) and includes stretches of the Usumacinta River, the Salinas River, and the Suchiate River. In July 2014, Mexico adopted the Programa Frontera Sur, which aims to establish "a more modern, efficient, prosperous, and secure border." Instead of building a wall, Mexico relies on interior enforcement through checkpoints staffed by various authorities, including the military police and the Mexican Army.

The border between Mexico and Guatemala is notoriously porous, with residents on both sides circumventing official border crossings by paying to be pushed across the slowly flowing Suchiate River on makeshift inner-tube rafts. This border is a significant source of military-grade weaponry for Mexican drug cartels, which is typically stolen from Central American government munitions stockpiles.

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