The government of Guyana officially lodged a protest with Venezuela on Saturday, denouncing the completion of a bridge by Venezuela’s armed forces on a remote river island that is shared by both nations. The construction of this bridge, which serves to connect Venezuela’s mainland to a military base, has reignited a longstanding dispute over border demarcations in the Essequibo region.
Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd, expressed his dissatisfaction in a statement, revealing that he had no choice but to summon Venezuelan Ambassador Amador Perez Silva to his office on Thursday to condemn Venezuela’s actions in building the bridge. The bridge in question links the Venezuelan mainland to the eastern side of Ankoko island. Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleges that the bridge directly links the Venezuelan mainland to a military base that was unlawfully established on Guyana’s portion of Ankoko island, a small landmass primarily inhabited by gold miners and military personnel.
For many years, the neighboring nations of Guyana and Venezuela have been embroiled in disputes concerning both land and maritime boundaries. Venezuela contends that a boundaries commission from the 1890s unjustly deprived it of the oil-rich Essequibo region, which currently constitutes approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Historically, this area was under British administration for over a century and has been under Guyanese sovereignty since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Tensions escalated last year when Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro issued threats of annexation through force, in response to a referendum in which Venezuelan voters were asked to consider transforming the Essequibo region into a Venezuelan state. However, a coalition of Caribbean leaders, Brazil, and the United Nations swiftly organized an emergency summit between the presidents of Guyana and Venezuela on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. At the summit, both leaders agreed to seek a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute and to refrain from taking actions that could further escalate tensions.
In light of recent events, Minister Todd reiterated that Venezuela’s construction of the bridge on Ankoko island constitutes a direct violation of the St. Vincent agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana firmly stated, “Venezuela’s activities, particularly its military presence east of the established boundary line, infringe upon Guyana’s sovereignty. International law dictates that these actions must cease immediately, and any personnel, infrastructure, or equipment introduced by Venezuela must be removed.”
To address these longstanding disputes, Guyana has pursued legal recourse by presenting the case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, seeking a final resolution. Recently, Guyana submitted its conclusive evidence to the court, and Venezuela is expected to respond by August.
The ongoing tensions between Guyana and Venezuela serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding territorial disputes and the importance of diplomatic channels in resolving such conflicts. As the two nations navigate this delicate situation, the international community watches closely, hopeful for a peaceful and amicable resolution that up.
