National Security Strategy of Belize Executive Summary Despite the growth of global governance and regional integration efforts, the State remains the primary actor in international affairs and is ultimately responsible for confronting a myriad of possible state and non-state threats that challenge its very existence. Therefore, the State must make every effort to guarantee its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of external threats. It is unwise to define national security solely in terms of sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is a broad concept that encompasses all possible threats to the Belizean way of life, including threats to public safety, governance, economic wellbeing, social welfare, and the environment. National security issues have local, regional, and international dimensions, and greatly affect the nation’s chances of achieving all of its social and economic goals. National Security requires proactive management by the State through its agents and institutions. The National Security Strategy of Belize will establish: “A safe, secure Belize at peace with itself and its neighbours, where the security environment allows the development of a peaceful and democratic society that utilizes its human and natural resources to ensure social justice, ethnic harmony, security, stability and prosperity.” In essence, the vision is for all Belizeans to enjoy a better quality of life and have an opportunity to realise their full potential. The illegal drug trade remains of particular concern as this has a direct influence on criminal activity involving drug use, gangs, small arms trafficking, violent crime, money laundering, and the corruption of the criminal justice system. This, coupled with the general breakdown of social mores, have led to the widespread disregard for the rule of law and the gradual depreciation of the value of human life, particularly among our youth. Other threats to Belize include all those relating to natural and manmade disasters, external challenges to Belize’s economic stability, and the unsustainable loss of natural resources. Following a careful analysis of the many threats to national security and their associated vulnerabilities, eleven national security goals arise that can counter or reduce the extent of the country’s exposure to these threats: Executive Summary 3