Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines forecasts continued tensions after the ICJ ruling on the Guyana/Venezuela border dispute. Recent Venezuelan naval activities have escalated concerns in Guyana, prompting international calls for calm. Venezuela contests Guyana’s claims regarding maritime territory, asserting that it remains unresolved under international law.
On March 5, 2025, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines addressed ongoing tensions arising from the Guyana/Venezuela border dispute, anticipating that the forthcoming ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will not alleviate these conflicts. Gonsalves stated, “Whichever way they go, you’re still going to have tensions.” He also indicated a timeline for the ICJ’s judgment, which may be issued later this year or early next year.
As an interlocutor under the Argyle Agreement signed between the two nations in December 2023, Gonsalves highlighted recent developments in the dispute. Guyana raised alarms about a Venezuelan naval vessel’s proximity to its oil assets, prompting international responses from entities such as CARICOM and the OAS, urging Venezuela to refrain from provocation.
In contrast, Venezuela dismissed President Irfaan Ali’s remarks, claiming that they are unfounded, stating that those waters do not belong to Guyana, as they are still subject to delimitation according to international law. This dispute is rooted in the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which delineated the land boundary between the two countries.
The ICJ is currently deliberating the case filed by Guyana in March 2018, seeking a declaration on the validity of the 1899 award. The court has affirmed its jurisdiction and is set to rule on the merits of the dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region, which constitutes approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and includes a significant portion of its population.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has emphasized that tensions between Guyana and Venezuela will persist following the ICJ’s pending ruling in the border dispute. Despite international calls for restraint, both nations maintain conflicting narratives regarding the maritime territory. The ICJ’s decision on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award will be pivotal, yet the underlying tensions appear unlikely to diminish regardless of the judgment outcome.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
