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Where we left off last night is at 2007, when the then commander of the BDF, realizing the dangers of leaving the Sarstoon encounters unaddressed, engaged his Guatemalan counterpart. They signed a Gentleman's Agreement on how the militaries of the 2 countries would conduct themselves in the Sarstoon.

This agreement took effect in June 11, 2007, and stipulated that both approaches of the River, the Northern and Southern Channels, would be used by the BDF. The Guat Armed Forces would also conduct a joint patrol with BDF soldiers as a confidence building measure for the people living in the area. Both sides agreed additionally that they would share intelligence of any illegal activities spotted in the Sarstoon area. But most importantly, it was agreed that there would be no more "blocking of the Sarstoon or belligerent actions"

That gentleman's agreement kept the encounters between the BDF and the GAF cordial for all of 2008. Then in November 2009, the tensions began to rise again when the BDF spotted a Guat military vessel anchored at the mouth of the Sarstoon, appearing to be in Belizean territorial waters. There were 2 other Guatemalan boats a little further up the river patrolling on the Belize side. When the BDF soldiers pulled their vessel beside all the boats and inquired why the Guatemalans were on Belize's side of the river, the Guatemalan soldiers told them that they were acting on the orders of their superiors. A Guatemalan flag was seen erected on the island, and BDF took it down, and respectfully gave it to the Guatemalan soldiers. The officers reportedly told them that this flag would simply be placed right back on Sarstoon Island.

One month later, a Guatemalan patrol boat attempted to stop a BDF vessel from using the southern channel of the river. The Guatemalan vessel eventually allowed them to pass, but followed them, a short distance up the river. On the return journey, the BDF used the northern channel to avoid another confrontation that day.

In February of 2010, the Guatemalan soldiers started to make it a point of trying to stop the BDF from using the southern channel. On April 13, 2010, the BDF encountered a Navy ship at the River mouth. 2 smaller Guatemalan vessels approached the BDF vessel and informed them that he, quote, "received orders from his general that no BDF is to enter through the south side channel of the (Sarstoon) Island." End quote.

Things went relatively quiet after that until July of last year when the BDF changeover vessels from Cadenas were once again followed by the Guatemalan military. That incident is believed to have been triggered when the Coast Guard went surveying the Sarstoon area to build the forward operating base. That's the encounter that the Coast Guard had to stand their ground, even though the Guatemalan military tried to coerce them into leaving. The BDF think that this encounter with the Coast Guard coupled with the activities of Wil Maheia and the Territorial Volunteers caused the situation to become tense again.

In August 2015, the BDF were on a changeover missing to Cadenas, and they were using the south channel of the river. A Guatemalan vessel aggressively intercepted them, which almost caused a collision. The Guatemalan soldiers then demanded that they use the northern channel because the southern side of Sarstoon Island had a number of fishing nets laid out. The BDF ignored their demands and continued with their mission, and the Guatemalan soldiers followed them almost all the way to the Cadenas Observation Post.

Viewers will remember this image from August 25 of last year. That's when Wil Maheia and the territorial volunteers went back to the island after they had the first - now infamous - encounter with the Guatemalan military. They mounted the Belize flag on Sarstoon Island defiantly. Well the BDF threat assessment says that a few hours later, the Cadenas changeover vessel was stopped, and that flag was handed over to them. They were told that no party should put up any flags on Sarstoon because the island was still under discussion.

The threat assessment says that from the BDF's observations, the aggressive tactics of the Guatemalan armed forces appear purposeful to force a conflict, almost tantalizingly.