AS Guyana stands at a critical juncture in its history, with the eyes of the world fixed on the western frontier, President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s reaffirmation of the nation’s peaceful posture toward Venezuela strikes a tone of both restraint and resolve.

His remarks at Wednesday’s commissioning parade for the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Standard Officers Course #56 serve as a clear and timely declaration: while Guyana seeks peace and friendship, it will never yield its sovereignty over a single inch of its territory.

In the midst of escalating tension along the Cuyuni River and renewed aggression from the Venezuelan regime, the President’s words carried a dual weight—an appeal to diplomacy, and a warning that Guyana will defend itself if provoked.

“Guyana has no quarrel with the Venezuelan people,” President Ali reminded, emphasising that the controversy is not born of hatred but of principle. He underscored that while thousands of Venezuelans fleeing hardship have been welcomed across Guyana’s borders, the same spirit of humanity cannot be mistaken for weakness. “We will not compromise our sovereignty,” he asserted—a statement that should echo from Georgetown to Caracas.

The Guyana-Venezuela border controversy is no new quarrel. It has its roots in the 1899 Arbitral Award that definitively established the boundary between the two nations—an agreement Venezuela itself accepted for decades before later rejecting.

Today, the matter lies before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has twice confirmed its jurisdiction and ordered provisional measures directing Venezuela to refrain from altering the status quo. Yet, the Nicolás Maduro regime has defied these rulings, enacting domestic laws purporting to annex Essequibo and even conducting provocative military maneuvers near Guyanese territory.

The most recent violations are deeply concerning. On March 1, 2025, a Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel entered Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approaching dangerously close to the FPSO Prosperity—one of the floating production vessels operating in the offshore oil fields.

The Venezuelan crew issued threatening radio communications, claiming the area was “disputed international waters.” Such an incursion is not merely a diplomatic slight; it is a blatant breach of international law. The incident drew swift condemnation from CARICOM, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the United States, France, and other partners—demonstrating that Guyana does not stand alone.

Further compounding the unease are recent reports of armed attacks along the Cuyuni River, where men in civilian clothing allegedly opened fire from the Venezuelan side.

These acts of hostility underscore why President Ali’s call for vigilance must be matched by readiness. His message to the new officers of the GDF—“We will defend it with our partners, our allies, and those who stand on the side of freedom, sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law”—is as much a command as it is a national creed.

Guyana’s posture is therefore one of principled peace. The government continues to rely on diplomacy and the rule of international law, even as Venezuela resorts to intimidation and illegality.

This approach has earned Guyana the respect of the global community and reinforced its moral authority in defending the integrity of the 1899 boundary.

Yet, peace must be backed by strength. The President’s reminder that national defence is an “investment in peace” is especially resonant now.

The strengthening of the GDF, the enhancement of maritime surveillance, and deepening partnerships with regional and global allies are not acts of provocation—they are acts of prudence.

At its heart, this controversy is not merely about territory—it is about principle, sovereignty, and the right of a small nation to exist unthreatened by a larger neighbor. Guyana has never sought confrontation, but neither will it submit to coercion.

President Ali’s message is thus both a reassurance to the nation and a warning to those who would test its resolve: Guyana is a nation of peace, not passivity; of welcome, not weakness.

It will continue to engage through law, diplomacy, and partnership, but if challenged, it will defend every river, forest, and field that make up the proud land of Guyana.