IN the wake of Venezuela’s resurrected claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region and its resources, and the recent move to sign its December referendum into law, Guyana is actively strengthening its security and diplomatic relations with its global allies. Geopolitical alliances and energy diplomacy play an integral role in mitigating international conflicts between nations. Guyana’s efforts to protect its territorial integrity intersect with the formation of global partnerships that uniquely position the nation amidst a large cross-section of allies who have expressed their support for the country’s right to develop its resources.
Regional leaders across South America and the Caribbean, represented by CARICOM, have been integral in mediating the ongoing controversy. In December 2023, a meeting held between Guyana’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, was facilitated by St. Vincent’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, in Argyle, with support from Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This meeting resulted in both countries promising not to use threats or force against the other, pending the resolution of the long-standing border issue and resolve to peaceful coexistence. This is a prime example of the important role geopolitical alliances play in mediating matters of national, regional and international security.
The international calls for support of Guyana’s sovereign right to its territory are neither coincidental nor arbitrary. Guyana’s emergence as a leading player in the international petroleum scene has resulted in ramped-up interest from oil-producing nations, leading to increased diplomatic relations, investments and partnerships from nations across the globe, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, to name a few.
Leading energy research companies such as Rystad Energy have also thrown their support behind Guyana. In fact, following Venezuela’s objections to Guyana’s maiden bid round for its offshore oil blocks, Rystad Energy’s Managing Director for Latin America, Schreiner Parker, noted that Venezuela is an international pariah state with just a few states supporting its illegal claim to Guyana’s resource-rich territory.
With global calls rallying for legal means to settle this decades-long controversy, Guyana is now in a position of amplified support from its international allies. The border dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela was legally settled on October 3, 1899, via the Arbitral Award in which both countries participated and were equally represented. Guyana remains resolute in its position that this matter will be resolved through the International Court of Justice, solidifying the country’s firm commitment to adherence to international law. The outpouring of support for Guyana underscores the vital role of geopolitics in maintaining global peace and stability.
