Guyana and Venezuela Conflict

Source– This post is based on the article “Dissecting the discord between Guyana and Venezuela: Conflagration or pacification?” published in “DownToEarth” on 8th December 2023.

Why in the News?

Recently Venezuela held a nonbinding referendum to strengthen the nation’s century-old claim to the oil-rich Essequibo territory governed by Guyana.

What is the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela?

Source- BBC

Historical background

1) The land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela has been disputed since its colonial inception between British and Spanish powers in South America.

2) In the 1840s, the British government had the border unilaterally surveyed, but the proposed line encroached on Venezuelan territorial claims.

3) While the British line, accepted by Guyana, is the current de facto boundary, Venezuela maintains a historic claim to all territory currently administered by Guyana west of the Essequibo River.

4) Venezuela contends that the Essequibo River represents the natural border between the countries, dating back to Spanish rule, while Guyana upholds the border established during the British colonial era, validated by 1899 arbitration court.

Current Status

1. Guyana submitted the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2018. The ICJ validated Guyana’s claims.

2) Venezuela proceeded with the referendum despite calls from the ICJ to refrain from actions affecting the disputed territory.

About Essequibo

1) Essequiba is a disputed territory west of the Essequibo River, claimed by both Guyana and Venezuela.

2) The region makes up two thirds of the total of the land currently controlled by Guyana and is home to 125,000 of Guyana’s 800,000 citizens.

3) It is an oil and mineral-rich (gold, copper, diamond, aluminium and iron ore) region.

UPSC Syllabus- International Relations/ Geography and places in News