Guyana Confident ICJ Ruling Will End Venezuela Border Dispute Over Esequibo

Georgetown, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali has voiced strong optimism that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver a definitive ruling that settles the long-standing border dispute with Venezuela over the resource-rich Esequibo region. Scheduled for January 2027, the anticipated judgment is seen by Guyana as the final step in resolving a controversy that has persisted for over a century, stemming from Venezuela's challenge to the 1899 Arbitral Award.

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The Court's ruling will put an end to the controversy that arose in 1962, when Venezuela first questioned the legality of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the international border it established.

President Ali emphasized that Guyana has respected the established border for 63 years since its independence from Great Britain in 1966. He firmly stated that Venezuela has never held legitimate claims to the Esequibo, a territory that comprises more than two-thirds of Guyana's landmass. "We await the Court's final sentence with patience, dignity, and optimism," Ali declared, underscoring Guyana's commitment to a peaceful resolution while upholding its sovereignty. He also urged Caracas to refrain from any actions that could threaten Guyana's territorial integrity.

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After accepting, respecting, and complying with the award and the border without protest for 63 years, the oral arguments presented raised this protest so late precisely at the moment when Guyana was approaching its independence.

This confidence is juxtaposed against Venezuela's continued assertion of its claim, as articulated by acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Despite Venezuela's stated refusal to accept any ICJ ruling, Guyana remains steadfast in its legal recourse. President Ali also highlighted recent security concerns, including reports of shootings in the border area of Cuyuni, and has placed the armed forces on alert to manage drug trafficking and maintain internal order. Guyana's position is clear: the 1899 award established a definitive border, and the ICJ's affirmation of this boundary is crucial for regional stability and Guyana's sovereign rights.

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We await the Court's final sentence with patience, dignity, and optimism. We will continue to address Venezuela with a spirit of peace, cooperation, and friendship, and as sovereign equals.