Guyana warns World Court that Venezuela's claim to oil-rich Esequibo Region poses an existential threat

Guyana asked the judges of the International Court?of Justice to rule Venezuela doesn't 'have a legitimized claim on the oil-rich area around the Esequibo River, which has been a disputed region between Latin American neighbours ever since colonial times.

Hugh Hilton 'Todd, Guyana's foreign minister, told the judges that facing a more powerful and larger neighbour's plans for our territory had not only hampered our peace and security but also slowed down our development. The hearings began a week ago at the ICJ (also known as the World Court). The border area around the Esequibo river, which is mostly forest, is 160,000 square kilometers (62,000 square miles). Offshore, there are massive oil and gas discoveries.

Todd claimed that Venezuela's claim to?Guyana's land is "illegal".

Guyana?brought its case before the ICJ – the top court of the United Nations – which deals with disputes involving states - in 2018. It asked the court to confirm that the boundary established by an arbitration held between Venezuela and British Guiana (then a colony) in 1899, which stated that the territory?belongs? to Guyana, was correct. Venezuelans rejected the ICJ jurisdiction in a referendum held in 2023. They voted to create a new state, the Esequibo'region'. This was established by Venezuela a year after.

Venezuela is now run by an interim government after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. troops in January. Venezuela will be able to present its case Wednesday.

The final verdict in the case will not be reached for several months. The ICJ's rulings are 'binding, without appeal and the court cannot enforce them on its own, instead relying upon the U.N. Security Council. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

(source: Reuters)