A contentious dispute revolves around a 160,000-square-km heavily forested (62,000-square-mile) border territory, specifically the Essequibo River, along with an offshore region recently identified as having substantial oil and gas reserves.
The conflicting claims center on this sparsely populated territory, and the disagreement extends to the border, which was initially established under a contentious 1899 decision when Guyana was still part of the British Empire. The government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro refuses to acknowledge the “arbitrary” boundary, contending that it was drawn by foreign colonial powers.
The United States has sided with Guyana in this matter, aligning with its longstanding opposition to Venezuela. This stance has persisted since the era of the late President Hugo Chavez, leading to ongoing sanctions against Venezuela, now extended to President Maduro’s tenure. A contentious dispute
In the midst of this territorial dispute, there are plans for a meeting between Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This information is derived from a letter sent by the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“The presidents will convene in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, December 14, 2023, facilitated by CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and CARICOM (the Caribbean Community), to address issues concerning the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela,” stated the government in an official communique.