A Century-Old Territorial Dispute Boils Over Between Guyana and Venezuela
It has been over one hundred years since the territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela began, and it seems to be reaching a boiling point due to the recent discovery of oil. This dispute is steeped in patriotism, and the Venezuelan government is using this struggle to boost support ahead of a presidential election, as the country’s population is fed up with the decade-long crisis that has pushed many of them into poverty.
The conflict between the two countries began in 1899 after the signing of an agreement known as the Arbitral Award of 1899. This agreement defined the border between the British colony of Guyana and the Spanish colony of Venezuela. However, in 1962, after Guyana gained its independence from Britain, Venezuela declared that the Arbitral Award had been null and void since the British had not consulted with them prior to the signing of the agreement.
Venezuela then claimed that the border should be the Essequibo River, which would give them control of two-thirds of the area that is currently part of Guyana. Ever since then, Venezuela has been pushing the issue, although without success. In 1966, the dispute went to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which decided that while the 1899 agreement was valid, it did not have the power to enforce it.
However, this long-standing dispute has been reignited due to the recent discovery of oil in the area. In May 2018, a US-based oil company announced that it had made a large oil find in the waters off the coast of Guyana, and that they were going to start drilling in the area. This has caused Venezuela to issue a strong protest, claiming that the area is part of its territory.
The Venezuelan government has been using the dispute as a tool to build support ahead of the presidential election, painting it as a fight for the country’s sovereignty and a chance to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. This has been met with widespread support from the population, with many feeling that it is a chance to take a stand against a foreign power that is trying to take advantage of them.
The situation has become even more tense as the election gets closer, with Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro insisting that the country’s borders are inviolable and that any foreign company operating in the area must be sanctioned. Guyana has responded by saying that it will use all legal means to protect its sovereignty and the rights of its citizens.
The dispute between Guyana and Venezuela seems to be escalating as the election draws near, and the discovery of oil has only added fuel to the fire. As the two countries engage in a battle of words and the risk of armed conflict looms, the international community will be watching closely to see how the situation develops. However, it is clear that the dispute is unlikely to be resolved any time soon, and that the two countries are engaged in a cold but protracted war.
