Guyana-Venezuela Border Conflict: The Call for a Diplomatic Resolution, by Donovan Reynolds, independent writer.

 

The South American country of Venezuela has heightened its territorial claim over the oil-rich Essequibo region, which comprises two-thirds of Guyana's land in the Caribbean. This raises concerns about a strategic move toward annexation. This escalation poses the risk of armed conflict, necessitating effective peace management to prevent regional balkanization. To understand this conflict, Kingstonmouth provides a short postcolonial historical background, highlighting the Caribbean's role as a historical battleground for global powers throughout the 15th to 19th centuries.

History: control of Caribbean territories.

The Age of Exploration saw European powers vie for control of Caribbean territories, driven by economic interests and imperial rivalries. By the 18th and 20th centuries, a complex interplay of factors catalyzed independence movements in the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Guyana, part of "the Guianas," has a longstanding border dispute rooted in Spanish, Dutch, and British claims, further fueled by the discovery of gold in 1841.

Furthermore, Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands sought to exploit the vast wealth and resources of these regions, engaging in brutal contests for territorial control.

The Caribbean, in particular, became a crucial theater for their rivalries, marked by violent struggles for land and resources such as sugar, tobacco, and valuable commodities. This colonial enterprise involved the displacement and suffering of indigenous populations and the enslavement of Africans.

The European powers' pursuit of profit through exploitative labor practices, disputed border rivalry, resource extraction, and trade laid the foundation for enduring socio-economic and cultural impacts on the colonized territories, shaping the course of history in the Caribbean and South America.

Oil reserves in Guyana.

Oil was discovered in the Essequibo region in 2015. The exploration efforts that led to this discovery were conducted by ExxonMobil, in collaboration with Hess Corporation and CNOOC Nexen. The significant oil finds have marked a transformative development for Guyana's economy, subsequently, it is one of the world's fastest-growing oil-producing nations. Consequently, this oil find created a border conflict between Venezuela and Guyana over the ownership of the Essequibo region.

The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, conducted a consultative referendum on December 3, 2023, to address Venezuela's claim over the disputed territory of Guayana Esequiba, which is currently controlled by neighboring Guyana. Notably, the population of the contested territory was not involved in the voting process, as the referendum took place within Venezuela. Nonetheless, Venezuelan voters at the referendum approved a referendum claiming rights over Essequibo, ratcheting up tensions.

While crafting this dialectic with Ann Smith, the Managing Editor of Kingstonmouth.com, we found ourselves entertaining the whimsical notion that perhaps, had those resource-grabbing capitalist European overlords possessed even a hint of foresight that beneath the seemingly inconspicuous landscapes of Venezuela and Guyana there was more than a third of the world's oil reserves, they might have not left the region. Thanks to the allure of profits to be made in Europe from the industrial revolution.

The pushback against colonialism in South America and the Caribbean gained momentum primarily during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. This period witnessed a complex interplay of factors that fueled movements for independence and autonomy in the region. Economic changes, including the end of slavery, altered the dynamics of labor and the economic landscape. Concurrently, internal discontent within the colonies, fuelled by social inequalities, and a desire for self-determination, played a pivotal role in the shift toward self-rule.

The Geneva Agreement.

As a consequence, in 1966, the Geneva Agreement was signed, preserving Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo's eastern area. Despite diplomatic efforts, no resolution ensued, leading to the 2018 referral to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Guyana, tied to the Caribbean, grapples with socioeconomic challenges but transformed with the discovery of oil reserves in 2019.

Venezuelan President Maduro's aggressive stance earlier this month raises concerns linked to oil discoveries, Exxon's involvement, potential U.S. military base proximity, and upcoming Venezuelan elections. Maduro ordered a law to be drafted recognizing a new state that he named the Guayana-Esequiba, where English-speaking residents would be given Venezuelan national ID cards. He also ordered mining and oil extraction operations to begin in this region, and for a special military unit to be created. The Petrocaribe alliance, established in 2005, adds complexity to geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean.

Final Thoughts.

Kingstonmouth.com aligns with CARICOM in supporting Guyana's sovereignty. We advocate for a diplomatic resolution through an open dialogue facilitated by a neutral third party such as the United Nations. This approach reflects a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, adherence to international law, and the well-being of both nations.

Our stance is principled, not based on cultural ties, and supports the ICJ's role in upholding agreements, including those from the colonial era, emphasizing the "uti possidetis juris" principle. We urge the adjudication of the Guyana-Venezuela border issue at the ICJ for a legal and diplomatic resolution, steering clear of regional tensions reminiscent of post-colonial wars.

Donovan Reynolds is the CEO of Kingstonmouth.com. He is a trained Diplomat, Human Rights Activist, and Communication Consultant. This article is edited by Ann Smith, a British Educator and Social Activist. Kingstommouth.com is a charitable organization that has been in existence for over nine years. We have an interest in Politics, Human Rights, and International Development Issues. Viewers wishing to comment on this article may do so in the space provided on this blog. Alternatively, they can contact us at kingstonmouth63@gmail.com or on our Twitter or Facebook Page.