Editing Belize (section)

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Belize}}
Belize is a full participating member of the [[United Nations]]; the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]; the [[Organization of American States]] (OAS); the [[Central American Integration System]] (SICA); the [[Caribbean Community]] (CARICOM); the [[CARICOM Single Market and Economy]] (CSME); the [[Association of Caribbean States]] (ACS); and the [[Caribbean Court of Justice]] (CCJ), which currently serves as a final court of appeal for only Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Saint Lucia. In 2001, the Caribbean Community heads of government voted on a measure declaring that the region should work towards replacing the UK's [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]] as final court of appeal with the Caribbean Court of Justice. It is still in the process of acceding to CARICOM treaties including the trade and single market treaties.

[[File:Royal Marines feel the heat in the jungle of Belize MOD 45162175.jpg|thumb|A British [[Royal Marine]] training in the jungle of Belize in 2017]]
Belize is an original member (1995) of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), and participates actively in its work. The pact involves the Caribbean Forum ([[CARIFORUM]]) subgroup of the [[African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States|Group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific states]] (ACP). CARIFORUM presently the only part of the wider ACP-bloc that has concluded the full regional trade-pact with the [[European Union]].

The [[British Army Training and Support Unit Belize|British Army Garrison]] in Belize is used primarily for [[jungle warfare]] training, with access to more than {{convert|5000|sqmi|order=flip}} of jungle terrain.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Lease of Life for British Army Base in Belize|url=http://forces.tv/85677232|date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411024152/http://forces.tv/85677232|work=Forces TV|archive-date=11 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Belize is a party to the [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://asp.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/asp/states%20parties/latin%20american%20and%20caribbean%20states/Pages/latin%20american%20and%20caribbean%20states.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809030312/https://asp.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/asp/states%20parties/latin%20american%20and%20caribbean%20states/Pages/latin%20american%20and%20caribbean%20states.aspx |url-status=live |title=Latin American and Caribbean State Parties to the Rome Statute|publisher= International Criminal Court|access-date= 10 July 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2021 }}</ref>

The United States (U.S.) is a major diplomatic partner to Belize and has been since 1981, following their Independence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-01 |title=Belize {{!}} History, Capital, Language, Map, Flag, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Belize |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Over the past few decades, relations between the two states have consistently grown through mutual cooperation, forming a strong, long-lasting partnership. In Belize, areas such as the economy, international/national security, and education have greatly improved with the support of the U.S.

The U.S. frequently offers Belize financial support. Most recently in 2024, the development of the U.S. foreign assistance agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), was a big step in addressing further growth in the economy. The MCC is a U.S. government-funded foreign assistance agency that focuses on reducing poverty through economic growth. It provides grants as opposed to loans, ensuring the program is not profit-driven. In Belize, this has translated into a system that modernizes educational opportunities and enhances the energy sector.  Historically, Belize and the U.S. have had good relations because of a shared commitment to democratic governance. Along with financial aid, the U.S. has continuously provided disaster relief after detrimental natural disasters that have been a threat to Belize's overall stability. ''<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Relations With Belize |url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-belize/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}</ref> ''

The U.S. Peace Corps has also played a pivotal role in Belize. Since 1952, the U.S. Peace Corps has a public health and education program in Belize through the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Program in Central America. Volunteers work in rural and urban communities to address the improvement of education, economic development, public health, etc. These efforts have strengthened the relations between Belize and the U.S. on a more community-based level.<ref name=":03"/>