Guyana asks World Court to reject Venezuela's Esequibo claim
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 4
Guyana asks World Court to reject Venezuela's Esequibo claim
11 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 4
At week-long hearings in The Hague, Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd said the 160,000-sq-km area covers more than 70% of Guyana and includes offshore oil and gas discoveries.
Venezuela said its claim was indisputable, rejected ICJ jurisdiction and insisted the dispute must be settled through direct negotiations, with its case due to be presented on Wednesday.
Guyana brought the case in 2018 seeking confirmation of an 1899 border award. A final ruling is months away; ICJ judgments are binding but rely on the UN Security Council for enforcement.
With billions in oil at stake, can a court ruling alone prevent a war between Guyana and Venezuela?
As two nations fight over oil, what future do the Indigenous people living in the disputed territory desire?
After Maduro's capture, will Venezuela's new leaders abandon their claim on Guyana's oil-rich territory?
Venezuela Rejects ICJ Jurisdiction as Guyana Seeks Sovereignty Over Oil-Rich Essequibo
Overview
The Essequibo dispute between Venezuela and Guyana has intensified following Venezuela's December 2023 referendum asserting sovereignty over the resource-rich region, despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering it to maintain the status quo. Venezuela has passed annexation laws and established subsidiaries to exploit Essequibo's resources, while rejecting the ICJ's jurisdiction and declaring it will ignore any adverse ruling. Guyana, supported by CARICOM and the United States, seeks the ICJ's affirmation of the 1899 Arbitral Award that granted the territory to British Guiana. Venezuela's severe economic crisis drives its aggressive claims, creating a complex geopolitical conflict that challenges international law enforcement and regional stability.