Guyana Tells World Court Venezuela’s Claim on Oil-Rich Region Threatens It

Guyana has asked judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule that Venezuela does not have a legitimate claim to the potentially oil-rich region around the Essequibo River, which has been disputed between the two countries since colonial times, Reuters reported.

At issue is a 160,000-square-kilometer (62,000-square-mile) border region around the Essequibo River—mostly jungle—as well as offshore areas where major oil and gas discoveries have been made. (Photo: Dan Lundberg, Wikimedia Commnos)

“Facing a larger and more powerful neighbor’s designs on our territory has not only threatened our peace and security, it has held back our development,” Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd told judges at the start of week-long hearings at the ICJ, also known as the World Court.

At issue is a 160,000-square-kilometer (62,000-square-mile) border region around the Essequibo River—mostly jungle—as well as offshore areas where major oil and gas discoveries have been made.

Todd said Venezuela’s “unlawful” claim covers more than 70% of Guyana’s territory. In 2018, Guyana brought the case to the ICJ—the United Nations’ top court for disputes between states—seeking confirmation of the border established in an 1899 arbitration between Venezuela and the former colony of British Guiana.

In a 2023 referendum, Venezuelan voters rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction and backed the creation of a new state in the Essequibo region, which Venezuela later moved to establish.