Venezuela tells UN court Guyana's Essequibo was fraudulently taken
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 6
Venezuela tells UN court Guyana's Essequibo was fraudulently taken
11 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 6
At hearings in The Hague, Caracas said a 1966 Geneva agreement, not the ICJ, should settle ownership of the mineral-rich region.
The case concerns territory rich in gold, diamonds and timber near major offshore oil deposits; Guyana says about 70% of its land is at stake.
Guyana asked the court in 2018 to uphold the 1899 border ruling, while Venezuela rejects the court's jurisdiction. A binding judgment is expected in months.
Can international law protect Guyana when its neighbor rejects the court's authority and claims its oil-rich territory?
Is the World Court's ruling merely a suggestion in a dispute decided by oil reserves and military power?
The 2026 Essequibo Dispute: Venezuela's Rejection of ICJ Jurisdiction and Guyana's Sovereignty Battle
Overview
The long-standing territorial dispute over Guyana's Essequibo region escalated at the May 2026 ICJ hearings, where Venezuela rejected the court's authority, following a 2023 referendum repudiating ICJ jurisdiction. Venezuela dismisses the 1899 Arbitral Award, declared null in 1962 after revelations of arbitration irregularities, and insists on bilateral talks under the 1966 Geneva Agreement. Guyana defends its sovereignty based on the Award and seeks ICJ confirmation. The dispute is intensified by Guyana's recent offshore oil discoveries and Venezuela's deepening economic crisis after the 2026 US-led capture of Maduro's regime. Provocative acts, like Venezuela's symbolic brooch, have drawn regional concern and CARICOM support for Guyana, while enforcement of any ICJ ruling remains uncertain due to Venezuela's refusal and geopolitical complexities.