2023-12-10 14:27:35
The Great Venezuela Housing Mission arrives in the new state of Guayana Esequiba! We will build 120 new decent homes to honor, embrace and serve our communities. Congratulations to our compatriots, the Homeland arrived by decision of the People! pic.twitter.com/oh5Xo8bWj5
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) December 8, 2023
In the geography of South America, the Essequibo stands as a disputed territory, where oil wealth has unleashed tensions between Guyana and Venezuela and the boots of the military who are stationing themselves in the region are ringing. This border, which currently constitutes more than half of Guyanese territory, has become an epicenter of conflicts dating back to colonial times.
The story dates back to 1841, when British Guiana, under the tutelage of the Royal Geographical Society, deployed explorer Robert Hermann Schomburgk to delineate borders with the future Venezuela and Dutch Guiana.
The lack of precision in previous treaties generated discord, and the Venezuelan claim focused on the Schomburgk Line, alleging the illegitimate acquisition of vast extensions of its territory by the United Kingdom.
Until 1966, Essequibo remained under British rule as part of British Guiana. After years of disputes, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of what we now know as Guyana. This territory, which is home to minerals and oil, has become a crucial focus for Guyana, which, with the collaboration of ExxonMobil, is taking advantage of its resources.
Maduro and his referendum to appropriate Essequibo
The tension has reached a fever pitch, evidenced by the non-binding consultative referendum held by Venezuela for the annexation of Essequibo. This move has triggered international reactions and diplomatic tensions. Although the dispute has persisted since colonial times, It has recently intensified following the competition declared by the International Court of Justice and the authorizations for oil exploration in the region..
Even though Guyana is experiencing a meteoric rise in the oil industry, the territorial dispute with Venezuela presents itself as an existential risk. The Venezuelan claim, which covers more than 50% of Guyanese territory, including important oil deposits, is currently in the hands of the International Court of Justice. Although a verdict in favor of Guyana is expected, uncertainty remains over whether Venezuela will accept the court’s decision.
Military tensions on the border between Venezuela and Gunaya
Tension persists day after day in the midst of the crisis over the 159,542 square kilometers of territory in dispute between Venezuela and Guyana. In the most recent chapter of this conflict, last Thursday, military air exercises were carried out in Guyana territory, led by the United States Southern Command in collaboration with the Guyana Defense Force.
Although Washington described these events as “routine operations,” they raised concern and raised alerts in the context of the growing escalation between Caracas and Georgetown. The Venezuelan Government issued a statement condemning what it considered as “the green light for the presence of the Southern Command in the territory of Guayana Esequiba, over which Guyana maintains a de facto occupation.”
It is relevant to highlight that the military deployment between Southern Command and Guyana took place in what Venezuela officially recognized as its new province since last Monday: Guyana Essequiba. The official creation of this province, number 24 on the map, materialized after the consultative referendum held last Sunday in Venezuela, where the “yes” vote won with respect to the position defended by Caracas in the territorial conflict.
Beyond oil: Guyana’s economic miracle
Guyana, despite having fewer oil reserves than Venezuela, is on the verge of surpassing its neighbor in production. The Stabroek block, located in disputed waters in the Essequibo, is the epicenter of the Guyanese oil boom.
This resource not only boosts Guyana’s economy, but also represents a constant challenge in the delicate geopolitical relationship with Venezuela.
There would also be a large amount of minerals that would be worth billions of dollars, so the dispute also falls into the realm of mining.
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