BELMOPAN, Belize — Belize has asked the Organisation of American States (OAS) to investigate the reported incursion of a Guatemalan military reconnaissance aircraft into its airspace on September 24.

The request followed an extraordinary meeting of Belize’s National Security Council on Monday, October 5, chaired by Prime Minister John Briceño.

The Council reviewed primary and secondary radar data which, according to the Belizean government, confirmed the unauthorised entry of a Guatemalan Armed Forces aircraft, tail number FAG706, during a regional counternarcotics operation that did not include Belize.

According to the radar data, the aircraft entered Belizean airspace from the east at 7:29 pm Belize time at an altitude of 4,000 feet.

The government said the aircraft turned off its transponder at 8:07 pm in an apparent attempt to evade detection by secondary radar. Belize’s primary radar detected the aircraft again at 8:10 pm.

FAG706 then travelled southwest and flew in close proximity to Punta Ycacos, Toledo, before leaving Belizean airspace at approximately 8:40 pm. The government said the aircraft was in Belizean airspace for approximately one hour and 10 minutes.

The National Security Council directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to formally request that the OAS investigate the incident. The ministry had previously asked the OAS to seek clarification from Guatemala regarding the incident.

Belize said it is prepared to cooperate fully with the OAS and provide all available data to support an investigation.

The Council also considered the wider regional counternarcotics effort and reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to working with partner nations on regional security.

However, the government said it rejects what it described as the latest violation of Belize’s territorial sovereignty by the Guatemalan Armed Forces.

It cited what it described as multiple recent incursions by Guatemalan forces into Belize’s southern maritime space, as well as threats of the use of force on the Sarstoon.

The Belizean government called on Guatemala to abide by long-established bilateral confidence-building measures and contribute to regional peace and stability as countries work to address evolving security threats, including drug trafficking.