New Delhi: India’s reiteration on Tuesday that the issue of Venezuela’s claim over the Essequibo region in Guyana should be resolved peacefully reflects New Delhi’s concern over the escalation of the problem between the two South American neighbours. “We are closely following the developments pertaining to the Guyana-Venezuela border issue,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. “We are aware that the matter is already being considered by the International Court of Justice. We believe the issue should be resolved peacefully and escalatory steps avoided. We welcome the recent regional diplomatic initiatives on the issue.”
Last week, during his weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also stated that India “always advocated resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, but for the moment I would say we’re just keeping a close eye on seeing what's happening”.
The long-standing dispute escalated into a crisis earlier this month when Venezuela held a referendum to strengthen its claim over the Essequibo region in Guyana. The origin of the conflict dates back many years, with the current border established through the Paris Arbitral Award in 1899. Venezuela revived its territorial claim in 1962, leading to the matter being brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2018.
The discovery of significant offshore oil reserves in the 2010s heightened tensions. In September this year, Guyana issued drilling licences in the disputed waters. Subsequently, this month, Venezuela conducted a referendum, posing questions about whether the region should become a state of Venezuela, and its inhabitants be granted citizenship. Despite a reported low turnout, the Venezuelan government asserted that the results indicated overwhelming support for such a move. Venezuela then escalated its efforts to assert its claim, including the publication of maps incorporating the contested territory into the country and the announcement of plans for the region’s development.
The referendum, it may be mentioned, was held within Venezuela only and the views of the people of Essequibo were not taken into account. The disputed territory of 159,500 sq km lies west of the Essequibo River. Following Venezuela’s actions, several nations, including Brazil, the UK and the US, rallied behind Guyana's stance. Brazil deployed troops to its border adjacent to the disputed region, while the US engaged in military exercises with Guyana. The ICJ cautioned Venezuela against taking direct action in the region, emphasising the scheduled trial in early 2024. The Mercosur regional group urged the parties involved to seek a peaceful resolution.
On December 9, Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and current head of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), announced his initiative to host a meeting between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was also extended an invitation to participate in the meeting. According to reports, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has agreed to hold a bilateral meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in the Eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent. So, why is the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela a cause of concern for India?
India’s relations with Guyana are warm and cordial with a high degree of understanding. The interaction is structured through periodic joint commissions, foreign office consultations, bilateral visits, cultural exchange programmes and Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarship slots.