Venezuela abandons the idea of fighting Guyana over "disputed" territory
The two countries promised to refrain from escalating the conflict and cooperate to avoid incidents that "contribute to tensions"
Venezuela and Guyana have agreed not to use force to resolve the territorial dispute over the mineral-rich Essequibo region. This is stated in a joint statement by Presidents Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela following a meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Moscow Times reports.
The parties also agreed to resolve any differences in accordance with international law. In addition, Venezuela and Guyana promised to refrain from escalating the conflict and cooperate to avoid incidents that "contribute to tensions" between the countries.
They expressed their commitment to "ensuring good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence and unity in Latin America and the Caribbean."
At the same time, the countries did not agree on whether the International Criminal Court would be involved in resolving the territorial dispute. Guyana insists on this, but Venezuela does not recognize its jurisdiction. Within three months, a new meeting between representatives of the two countries is to take place in Brazil.
In early December, Venezuela held a referendum on the annexation of the Essequibo region, a part of neighboring Guyana. The country's authorities claimed that more than 95% of those who voted supported the annexation of the oil-rich region, after which President Maduro announced the inclusion of the new 24th state in Venezuela.
Immediately afterward, President Irfaan Ali of Guyana appealed to the allies for military assistance. According to him, 4,000 people serve in the Guyana Defense Force, while the Venezuelan army has 351,000 soldiers. Therefore, the Guyana authorities have announced plans to increase military cooperation, including with the United States.
In turn, the Venezuelan authorities mobilized the army to capture Essequibo. Maduro promised that all 125,000 residents of the region, who are now citizens of Guyana, would receive Venezuelan citizenship. He also demanded that foreign oil companies operating in Essequibo under licenses from the Guyanese authorities shut down their operations.
The territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over Essequibo escalated in 2015 after the discovery of oil fields in the region.
Venezuela believes that during the Spanish colonial period, this region belonged to it, although the International Court of Arbitration in 1899 attributed Essequibo to the then British Guiana (Guyana declared independence from Britain in 1966).
On December 1, 2023, the International Court of Justice banned Venezuela from violating the territorial integrity of Guyana.
Background. As reported, the Venezuelan leader signed a decree annexing part of Guyana's territory.
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