Guyana confident ICJ will uphold border ruling – Pres Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali said on Friday that Guyana was “more confident than ever” that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would uphold the 1899 arbitral award establishing the country’s border with Venezuela, as the long-running territorial dispute entered its final phase.

During a news conference, Dr Ali praised Guyana’s legal and diplomatic teams for presenting what he described as a strong case before the United Nations court.

“All that now remains is for the court to deliberate on the matter before it, especially on the validity of the 1899 arbitral award that determined the international boundary between the two countries, and issue its final judgment, which will be legally binding on both parties,” he said, adding that Guyana expected a ruling “at the end of this year”.

The case centres on the Essequibo region, a resource-rich territory comprising nearly two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass. Venezuela has long claimed the area despite the 1899 ruling that fixed the border.

Dr Ali described the proceedings as “a triumph for the rule of law and the rules-based international order”, arguing that disputes between states “must be resolved peacefully” and “never be resolved by threat or use of military force”.

He reiterated that Guyana would respect the court’s judgment “whatever it may be”, while criticising statements from Venezuelan officials rejecting the ICJ’s jurisdiction.

“We have heard the statements of Venezuelan officials that they do not accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction and will not abide by its rulings,” he said, warning that such a position would breach obligations under international law.

The border controversy dates back to 1962, when Venezuela challenged the validity of the arbitral award after more than six decades of accepting the boundary. The dispute was later addressed under the 1966 Geneva Agreement, but decades of negotiations failed to produce a settlement.

António Guterres referred the matter to the ICJ in 2018, and the court ruled in 2020 that it had jurisdiction to hear the case. Despite tensions, Dr Ali said Guyana would continue to pursue peaceful relations with Venezuela while insisting that its sovereignty be respected.

“We hope that after passions recede and responsible government officials reflect, they will conclude, as we have done, that both states are best served by an end to this longstanding conflict and that the only way to secure a just and lasting peace and enduring friendship is by respect for and compliance with the court’s final judgment, whatever it may be, as required by the United Nations Charter,” President Ali said.