Guyana Confident ICJ Will Rule in Its Favor in Esequibo Dispute with Venezuela

Guyana is increasingly confident that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold its claim over the Esequibo region in the long-standing territorial dispute with Venezuela. Prime Minister Mark Phillips asserted that the court is poised to confirm the legal validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which defined the international border between the two South American nations.

Phillips informed legislators that oral hearings concluded on May 11 in The Hague, with the court now deliberating before issuing a final judgment. He noted that ICJ rulings typically follow within six to eight months of the conclusion of oral arguments, suggesting a decision could be expected between November 2026 and January 2027. "Guyana is more convinced than ever that the court will confirm the legal validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the definitive and permanent nature of the international border between Guyana and Venezuela," Phillips stated.

Venezuela maintains its claim over the Esequibo territory, a vast area rich in oil and other natural resources that currently comprises approximately two-thirds of Guyana's landmass. Guyana brought the case to the ICJ in 2018 seeking confirmation of the 1899 award's legality, which Venezuela had accepted for over 60 years before declaring it null in 1962 and reviving its claim. Phillips also highlighted that the ICJ's ruling will be legally binding for both nations under the UN Charter and the ICJ Statute, emphasizing that the case's progression through the court represents a victory for the rule of law.