Venezuela tells the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the mineral-rich Essequibo region of Guyana was “fraudulently” taken during the 19th century, describing the dispute as an example of colonial wrongdoing. In hearings in The Hague, Venezuela argues that it has considered Essequibo part of its territory since Spanish colonial times. The country also maintains that a 1966 agreement between Venezuela and the United Kingdom on the dispute’s settlement should determine ownership, rather than the ICJ.
The submissions form part of a week of ICJ proceedings focused on the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. Venezuela’s position contrasts with Guyana’s, which has rejected Venezuela’s claims and has sought a binding ruling on the boundary question through the ICJ process. The arguments presented by Venezuela emphasize historical claims and the legal effect of the 1966 agreement, rather than accepting the legitimacy of the historic colonial transfer it says occurred. The court’s next steps and any ruling are not described in the provided reports.
