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Venezuela Rejects ICJ Case on Essequibo, Calls It ‘Legally Absurd’
(MENAFN) Venezuela has strongly criticized ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding its long-running territorial dispute with Guyana over the resource-rich Essequibo region, according to reports.
Delcy Rodríguez appeared before the ICJ in The Hague and described the case as a “legal absurdity,” insisting that Venezuela maintains full sovereignty over the disputed territory. She argued that judicial intervention would not resolve the conflict and instead deepen divisions between the two countries.
Rodríguez reiterated Caracas’s position that Venezuela is the only legitimate authority over the roughly 160,000-square-kilometer region, which includes significant natural resources such as offshore oil reserves. She maintained that international arbitration cannot replace what Venezuela considers historical ownership.
She also warned that a court ruling would fail to produce a mutually acceptable outcome and instead “perpetuate the dispute,” according to reports.
During her address, Rodríguez said Venezuela has submitted extensive documentation supporting its claim and accused the United Kingdom of obstructing access to historical evidence while favoring Guyana’s position.
The dispute centers on competing interpretations of colonial-era agreements. Guyana relies on a 1899 arbitration ruling that defined the current boundary, while Venezuela argues that a 1966 agreement should override that decision and calls for renewed negotiations instead of judicial settlement.
Venezuela has also framed the case as an attempt to challenge the legitimacy of historical border arrangements, while insisting that the ICJ process itself is biased or inappropriate for resolving the issue.
The Essequibo region—covering a large portion of Guyana’s territory—has become increasingly significant due to major oil discoveries, intensifying diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The ICJ is expected to issue a final ruling in the coming months, though Venezuela has maintained that it does not accept the court’s jurisdiction over the matter.
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