Belize Defence Force
| Belize Defence Force | |
|---|---|
Flag of the Belize Defence Force | |
| Motto | "Shoulder To Shoulder" |
| Founded | 1 January 1978 |
| Service branches |
|
| Headquarters | Price Barracks, Ladyville |
| Website | www |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Charles III, King of Belize, represented by Froyla Tzalam, Governor-General of Belize |
| Minister of National Defence and Border Security | Florencio Marin Jr. |
| Commander of the Defence Force | Brigadier General Azariel Loria |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18–23 years |
| Conscription | Laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient. |
| Available for military service | 121,249, age 18–49 years (2007) |
| Fit for military service | 87,871, age 18–49 years (2007) |
| Reaching military age annually | 6,313 (2007) |
| Active personnel | 2000 (2020 approx) |
| Reserve personnel | 850 (2016 approx) |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | 1.6% (2023) US$47.3 million (2023) |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers | |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Belize |
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is the military of Belize, and is responsible for protecting the sovereignty of the country. The BDF is under the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security, which is currently headed by Hon. Florencio Marin Jr.; the BDF itself is commanded by Brigadier General Azariel Loria. In 2012, the Belizean government spent about $17 million on the military, constituting 1.08% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).