BDF and Coast Guard Reaffirm Joint Operations After Leadership Change

The Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard are reaffirming their joint operational partnership following the recent change in leadership within both security institutions.

Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez now commands the Belize Defence Force, while Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis heads the Belize Coast Guard. The transition comes after the official swearing-in ceremony held on January 29, marking a new phase of coordination between the country’s land and maritime security arms.  Despite the leadership changes, officials say cooperation between the two organizations has remained seamless, particularly in areas of border security, maritime patrols and joint operations against transnational crime.  Commander Velasquez says his working relationship with Rear Admiral Soberanis has been strong even prior to the formal appointments, allowing operational planning and communication channels to remain steady.

Brigadier General, Anthony Velasquez, Belize Defence Force Commander: “First of all myself and Admiral Soberanis we go way back. We have a very good personal and professional relationship for many years. So I see us working very well together at the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard. Secondly this change of command that happened with both organizations changing command the same day and having a joint cocktail afterwards that took a lot of interdepartmental coordination and that’s the basis for our relationship. We coordinated well, our staff officers coordinated well to make sure that all the plans happened, that everything worked smoothly and like clockwork. So it went very well and it shows the level of cooperation and regard that both organizations have for each other.”

Authorities say the continued collaboration is critical as Belize faces evolving security challenges along both its land borders and territorial waters, with the two forces expected to continue joint patrols, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses across the country.