During hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the disputed Essequibo region, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez defended Caracas’ territorial claim and called for a negotiated settlement with Guyana.
Rodríguez said Venezuela would continue defending its “integrity, sovereignty, independence and history”, arguing the dispute should remain in the “negotiating arena” under the 1966 Geneva Agreement rather than through judicial resolution.
She accused Guyana of shifting the matter “to a judicial resolution” following major offshore oil discoveries near Essequibo.
After addressing the dispute, Rodríguez also rejected comments by US President Donald Trump, who reportedly said he was “seriously considering” making Venezuela the 51st US state. She responded that Venezuela is “not a colony, but a free country”.
Key developments
- Essequibo makes up around two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
- The region contains major oil, gold and mineral reserves.
- Guyana maintains the 1899 border ruling is legally valid.
- The ICJ is expected to issue a ruling in the coming months.
ℹ️ AP News
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