Written in MUNDO on December 3rd, 2023 · 9:40 a.m
In recent days, tensions between Venezuela and Guyana have increased to such an extent that there is talk of a risk of war between the two countries Why does President Nicolás Maduro want to invade the area? We’ll tell you.
And today a non-binding referendum is taking place on Venezuelan territory in which more than 20 million people can take part Dispute over 167,839 square kilometers west of the Essequibo River and which make up two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
Part of the claimed territory includes offshore oil reserves (the second largest undeveloped reserves in the world), as well as coal and gemstone deposits.
Is there a risk of war between Venezuela and Guyana?
The consultation asks five questions and addresses, among other things, the annexation of the territory to Venezuela and the granting of citizenship to the population of this entity.
Although the word “war” is not explicitly mentioned in the referendum, in one of its questions it does mention opposition “by all means in accordance with the law” to Guyana’s claims.
“Do you agree to use all legal means to oppose Guyana’s claim to unilateral control of a demarcated sea, illegally and in violation of international law?” is the fourth question.
President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali. Photo credit: EFE
When did the conflict between Venezuela and Guyana begin?
Territorial conflicts between Venezuela and Guyana They started in 1899, when the second nation after the Paris Arbitration was still a British colony.
This measure was denounced by Venezuela at the United Nations in 1962 and an agreement was reached to find a negotiated solution in 1966, but the conflict has continued since then.
In 2018, Guyana filed a lawsuit against Caracas at the International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute between both nationals over the Essequibo region, and it was only on April 6, 2023 that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared itself in favor of admitting the matter. , but after that there were protests from the Venezuelan side.
And the country ruled by Nicolás Maduro only supports the Geneva Conventionwhich was signed with the United Kingdom in 1966 to resolve the controversy.
The ICJ called on Venezuela to “refrain from any action that could alter the current situation in the region” or “aggravate or prolong” the litigation before the court, but did not deny that Caracas canceled the consultation. _With information from EFE