Guyana and Venezuela return to UN court to settle historic border dispute
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Guyana told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that 70% of its territory, the resource-rich Essequibo region, is under dispute with Venezuela, which claims ownership of the area.
- The border dispute dates back to an 1899 arbitration decision largely favoring Guyana, but Venezuela argues the decision was unfair and nullified by a 1966 agreement.
- Guyana requested the ICJ in 2018 to uphold the 1899 border ruling after years of failed mediation, and the court ruled in 2020 that it has jurisdiction to hear the case despite Venezuela's objections.
- Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has symbolically emphasized the claim by wearing pins shaped like the Essequibo region during recent official visits, highlighting the ongoing political sensitivity.
- The ICJ hearings will continue with Venezuela’s opening statements, as both countries seek a legal resolution to the longstanding territorial dispute.
