Resolving Venezuela's Essequibo Claim: Recent Incident In Guyana's EEZ Examined

In this regard, the Venezuelan authorities should reflect on whether taking over Ankoko Island (divided between the two countries) and placing military assets on it constitutes a threat of the use of force. Consideration might also be given to Venezuela’s declared intent to hold local elections on April 27, 2025 in Guyana’s Essequibo region, asserting it as “Guayana-Esequiba,” complete with a parallel governance structure—an action that directly challenges Guyana’s sovereignty.

The leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have publicly described these plans as a breach of international norms and of the ICJ’s provisional measures. Importantly, CARICOM has not forcibly inserted itself into the border issue. Instead, both the governments of Venezuela and Guyana solicit CARICOM’s mediating role, and to the credit of its leaders and the secretariat’s staff, the organisation has tried to play a steadying role. It is all the more unfortunate, therefore, that the Venezuelan vice president labelled officials of the CARICOM secretariat as “third-rank bureaucrats of CARICOM, who act behind the backs of heads of government.” Anyone who knows how the secretariat operates would confirm that it issues no public statement without the unanimous support of CARICOM governments.

Following the 1 March incident involving the Venezuelan military vessel and the FPSOs, Guyana’s president reported the matter to the Interlocutors of the Argyle Agreement, seeking “appropriate” action. In response—and while affirming in a March 1, 2025 statement that “The Essequibo is and will remain an inseparable part of Venezuela”—the Venezuelan foreign minister added that Venezuela will urgently activate the Argyle Mechanism to pursue peaceful dialogue.

Thus, President Nicolás Maduro requested an immediate meeting with President Ali under the chairmanship of the Argyle Interlocutors. For his part, while stating that he remains “fully committed to dialogue, particularly when it serves to reinforce international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,” President Ali proposed a preparatory meeting of the two countries’ foreign ministers.

President Ali’s proposal is wise—not only because it allows time to diffuse heightened emotions ignited by recent events, but also because it permits careful preparation for such an important encounter.

Ultimately, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have committed themselves to remain a Zone of Peace. By respecting the ICJ’s judgment on the border contention, once it is delivered, and the guiding principles of international law, Guyana and Venezuela can resolve their differences to the benefit of their peoples and regional stability.

A lasting solution lies not in epithets over who is the “Caribbean Zelensky” or “Putin,” but in deference to the legal frameworks upon which the peace and prosperity of all nations depend.

Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS.

The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous

commentaries:www.sirronaldsanders.com.