Essequibo River Dispute

Venezuelan Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez warned 30 December 2023 that until the United Kingdom draws out the warship it had deployed off Guyana's coast, Venezuela will continue to deploy its military forces across the country. "There ... on the Atlantic coast we [the Venezuelan armed forces] will remain [deployed] until this British imperialist vessel leaves the disputed waters between Venezuela and Guyana," Padrino Lopez said on X. UK media had reported, citing a UK Defense Ministry spokesperson, that the country would deploy a naval patrol ship to Guyana as a sign of support for its former colony in the territorial dispute with Venezuela over the Essequibo region. This came after a British junior foreign minister visited the former British colony to extend Britain's support in light of the Essequibo dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. Slamming the action, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said it violated the "spirit" of an agreement signed between Venezuelan and Guyanese authorities.

Venezuela would welcome the proposal to hold a high-level meeting with Guyana, which is scheduled for 14 December 2023. According to a comuniqué shared by the Foreign Affairs minister Yvan Gil, the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro hold a telephonic conversation with the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio da Silva and with the Prime Minister of San Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves who accorded to schedule a high level meet with Guyanese authorities.

Venezuela would welcome the proposal to hold a high-level meeting with Guyana, which would be announced in the coming days, in order to preserve the aspiration to keep Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, without interference from external actors. "In both calls the historic position on the unquestionable sovereign rights of Venezuela over the Guyana, as well as the legitimate and peaceful nature of our claim, which has been kept strictly attached the provisions of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, and principles and values that inspire our Bolivarian Diplomacy Peace," reads the comuniqué.

As well, President Nicolás Maduro spoke with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, who pledged to promote efforts for direct dialogue between the parties, and recalled that he has always offered his good offices for the resolution of the dispute.

Venezuela's dispute over Guyana Essequiba dates back more than 100 years. On December 3, Venezuela held a referendum - in which the Yes vote overwhelmingly won - to reaffirm its popular sovereignty over the territory. An on Wednesday 7 December, the Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino met with Alexis Rodriguez Cabello, the temporary sole authority of the state of Guayana Esequiba, to coordinate actions aimed at ensuring security in the new Venezuelan state.

Essequibo, sometimes also called Esequibo or Esequiba, is a disputed territory of 159,500 km2 /61,600 sq mi west of the Essequibo River in Guyana. Venezuela’s referendum to bolster its claim to the disputed Essequibo, a resource-rich strip of land controlled and administered by Guyana, sparked fears of a military confrontation. Guyana sees the referendum as a precursor to Venezuela annexing the territory and called on the International Court of Justice to stop the vote. Venezuela says the ICJ doesn’t have jurisdiction in the matter and vowed to go ahead with the ballot measure. The International Court of Justice ordered Venezuela to refrain from any action that would "modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute."

Brazil's defense ministry "intensified" operations along the country's northern border amid the mounting territorial dispute between neighbors Venezuela and Guyana. The Brazilian defense ministry "has been following the situation. Defense operations have been intensified in the country's northern border region, leading to a larger military presence".

“Today we are not voting as the opposition or the ruling party... We are voting as Venezuela, with one color, one flag, and one feeling,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stressed December 3, 2023. During a press conference held after casting his vote, Maduro said that the referendum is an extraordinary moment in the country's electoral history because all the factors come together in a single force: the defense of the Venezuelan rights on the Essequibo territory.

“As Venezuelans, today we are not voting as the opposition or the ruling party. We are not voting as center, left or right. We are not voting red, blue, white or green. Today we are voting as Venezuela, with one color, one flag and one feeling,” he said. Maduro highlighted that the consultative referendum on the Guayana Essequiba has prompted “an awakening of the national spirit of which the Liberator Simon Bolivar spoke about.” Maduro highlighted that the consultative referendum allows Venezuela to take the initiative in the process of asserting its rights through “a powerful consensus in a feeling of defense of what is ours and a rejection of the dispossession carried out by the British Empire.”

He also stressed that citizen participation in this democratic process strengthens the nation in the face of recent aggressions by the government of Guyana and the empires. “I am confident and optimistic. Starting today we will emerge stronger as a country to speak hard, clearly and powerfully,” he noted, highlighting that the world will see the power of Venezuelan men and women when exercising their right to vote. Finally, the Bolivarian leader sent a message of unity directed towards citizens who have not yet decided whether they will participate in the referendum. “Let's put aside pettiness, sectarianism and partisanship. It is Venezuela time. It is Venezuela day. It is the day of the people's free expression."

Venezuela categorically rejected the statement issued by the Secretariat of the (CARICOM) regarding the pronouncement of the International Court of Justice in relation to the measures requested by the Government of Guyana. Venezuela rejected a communiqué from the General Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that was a response to the pronouncement made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) about the consultative referendum.

“The CARICOM Secretariat blatantly lies and intentionally ignores the fact that the International Court of Justice unanimously rejected Guyana's reckless attempt to limit the political rights of Venezuelans and prevent the holding of the referendum called by the National Assembly of Venezuela(...); that is, the Geneva Agreement of 1966,” says the Statement published by Foreign Minister Yván Gil on X.

Gil also recalled that Court's clear call to the government of Guyana to cease the deliberate actions that aggravate the situation of the controversy, among which the involvement of the United States Southern Command and the granting of concessions in a yet to be demarcated maritime area, which has generated a situation that threatens the peace in the region. The Statement finilized with a call on he CARICOM partner countries to return to good judgement and objectivity; to distance themselves from the preconceived judgments of the oil transnational Exxon Mobil and the United States Southern Command.

On Sunday 03 December 2023, over 20 million Venezuelans were called to participate in the consultative referendum for the defense of Essequibo. The National Electoral Council (CNE) installed 15,857 voting centers and 28,027 polling stations throughout the country. This democratic process will take place in the 23 Venezuelan states and in the Capital District. At the national level, citizens were able to participate in 335 municipalities and 1,141 parishes.

Five questions were approved by the National Assembly that citizens will answer in the referendum on Essequibo.

1. Do you agree to reject by all means in accordance with the law, the line fraudulently interposed by the 1899 Paris Arbitration Award, which seeks to deprive us of our Guayana Esequiba?
2. Do you support the 1966 Geneva Agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a practical and satisfactory solution for Venezuela and Guyana regarding the controversy over the territory of Guayana Esequiba?
3. Do you agree with Venezuela's historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba?
4. Do you agree to oppose, by all legal means, Guyana's claim to unilaterally dispose of a sea pending delimitation, illegally and in violation of international law?
5. Do you agree with the creation of the Guayana Esequiba state and the development of an accelerated comprehensive care plan for that territory's current and future population, a plan which includes, among others, the granting of citizenship and Venezuelan identity card, in accordance with the Agreement Geneva and International Law, consequently incorporating such state on the map of Venezuelan territory?

Maduro denounced 28 November 2023 that the United States, Guyana, and the oil company ExxonMobil are seeking to sabotage or prevent the referendum on the Essequibo territory scheduled for Sunday. "I say to the government of Guyana, ExxonMobil, and the U.S. Southern Command that on Sunday, December 3rd, in Venezuela, come rain, thunder, or lightning, the homeland will wake up blessed, and the people will be in the streets voting and deciding because in Venezuela, the people rule," he stated.

"We will demonstrate the organized strength of Venezuelan society to motivate, transport, and facilitate everything so that no Venezuelan man or woman is left without going to vote." Maduro asserted that ExxonMobil, the U.S. and Guyana have funded Venezuelan influencers to generate the opinion that the Essequibo is not a Venezuelan territory, attempting to suspend the referendum. He characterized such actions as forms of betrayal to the homeland.

"They want to tarnish, damage, dirty, and prevent the referendum. However, the path is written and blessed. We will have a great popular celebration of electoral participation and decision on December 3rd," he stressed.

The "All Venezuela" activists hosted festive events to conclude the campaigns related to promoting the referendum in defense of Essequibo, which will take place on December 3rd. Hector Rodriguez, the responsible for Alliances and Microcampaigns at the "All Venezuela" Command, announced the campaign closures.

Throughout the last week of November, Venezuelans will also hold public concerts and parties to celebrate the Essequibo referendum in locations such as Punto Fijo, San Felipe, Coro, San Carlos, Guatire, Margarita, and Caracas. PSUV legislator Iris Varela emphasized that the Essequibo referendum is an exercise of sovereignty through which Venezuelans can defend their country's heritage.

In one of the closing events, Diosdado Cabello, the first vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), asserted that imperialism and its allies are waging a war against the Bolivarian nation. "Imperial powers are at war against Venezuela. International organizations that should be impartial, multinational oil companies, and all those who historically have sought to impose their influence on Venezuela are aligned. This is not, however, the first time that our people have resisted, fought, and triumphed."

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez highlighted that the Republic Plan will deploy more than 300,000 troops to guarantee the security of voters during the popular referendum.

Venezuela has long claimed 40% of the territory of Guyana and extended its maritime claims in 2015 after the discovery of oil in disputed waters. The Guyana Essequibo covers 53,000 square miles between the Essequibo River in Guyana, formerly British Guiana, and the present border with eastern Venezuela. The controversy centers on land to the west of Guyana's Essequibo River, encompassing around two-thirds of the English-speaking nation. The area has long been denoted on Venezuelan maps as a "reclamation zone," while in practice Guyanese have long lived and mined there.

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers the Essequibo region as its own but whose sovereignty is claimed by Venezuela based on the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966. Only the eastern part of the Anacoco river island in the Cuyuní River is under the sovereignty of Venezuela but has been protested by Guyana. Guyana maintained that it was an act of annexation of the Venezuelan army when in 1966 it occupied it militarily. Venezuela claims the territory as its own and, in its maps, the area usually appears oblique striped or with the legend Zone In Reclamation, subject to the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966.

Essequibo, an oil-rich area that borders both countries, is estimated to have between 800 million and 1.4 billion barrels of high-quality crude oil, worth at least US$44 billion. Located on the mainland, Essequibo is a point of contention between the two South American countries.

A Presidential Decree, dated July 10, 1968, created a straight baseline for eastern Venezuela. The straight baseline (SBL), in effect, closes the delta system of the Orinoco River. However, the SBL does extend beyond the limits of Venezuelan-administered territory into the neighboring state of Guyana. While Venezuela laid claim to territory as far as the Essequibo River, Guyana rejected this claim.

The long-standing territorial dispute between the two neighbors on the northern edge of South America, Venezuela and Guyana, entered a new and potentially volatile phase in June 1982 with the expiration of a 12-year moratorium on Venezuela's claim to a piece of land that makes up five-eighths of Guyana's national territory.

Exxon Mobil Corporation announced May 20, 2015 a significant oil discovery on the Stabroek Block, located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana. The well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd., and encountered more than 295 feet (90 meters) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 17,825 feet (5,433 meters) in 5,719 feet (1,743 meters) of water. Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers).

“I am encouraged by the results of the first well on the Stabroek Block,” said Stephen M. Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. “Over the coming months we will work to determine the commercial viability of the discovered resource, as well as evaluate other resource potential on the block.”

The well was spud on March 5, 2015. The well data would be analyzed in the coming months to better determine the full resource potential. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. holds 45 percent interest. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

ExxonMobil thinks that its discovery could hold as much as 700 million barrels of crude. Although it may be too early to tell if ExxonMobil can ultimately recover that much oil, the discovery in the Stabroek Block could be worth as much as $40 billion at current prices.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez expressed her country’s commitment to peaceful settlement of the dispute with Guyana over Essequibo. She made the remarks on the 51st anniversary of the Geneva Agreement, which granted Guyana temporary political authority over the region until the situation is resolved. The agreement was signed by Venezuela and the United Kingdom, Guyana’s colonizer, in 1966. “Here we are showing the international community the true soul of the Venezuelan people, who are a people of peace, seeking a resolution in a peaceful, negotiated, political and acceptable way for both parties, a resolution on the controversy of the Essequibo territory,” Rodriguez said.

The dispute over Essequibo reemerged in January 2017 when U.S. multinational giants Exxon Mobil and Hess discovered a massive amount of oil in the territory. And now that Exxon Mobil is moving forward with plans to exploit the Stabroek Block, it may attempt to push diplomatic relations to a new low. Taking advantage of the territorial dispute, Exxon Mobil has sided with the Guyanese government against Venezuela, which nationalized US$10 billion of its assets ten years ago. The company is already preparing plans to excavate, process and sell crude oil from the area. The controversy was revived in May 2015 after an offshore oil discovery by Exxon Mobil Corp which could be a major boost to the poor nation which depends heavily on rice, gold, diamonds and bauxite.

Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro signed a decree soon after the announcement that created a theoretical "defense" zone offshore that would, in Venezuela's eyes, leave the former British colony with no direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. Venezuela’s Official Gazette of May 27, 2015 essentially states that President Nicolas Maduro had authorized sovereignty over the coastal waters west of the Essequibo River to Delta Amacuro. If the calculations in the Gazette are accurate, it means that Venezuela is now laying claim to all the waters off Essequibo and that will include the area where the American oil company, Exxon-Mobil, recently discovered a significant oil find.