Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela promise dialogue

The conflict generated by Venezuela’s desire to incorporate the territory of Essequibo, belonging to Guyana, progressed through dialogue this Thursday (14). After a referendum and suggestions that he could occupy the site, which borders northern Brazil, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali met in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to discuss the situation.

The meeting symbolizes progress in the attempt to contain anger over the dispute. The meeting ended with a handshake between the two leaders.

According to Ali, speaking to the press, the 160,000-kilometer area claimed by Caracas is sovereign to his country, which has the right to explore it as it sees fit. The appointment is made because Maduro is interested in creating the Venezuelan state of “Guiana Essequiba” with ways to explore the region’s oil, mainly that found in the territorial sea.

Images from the ongoing CARICOM/CELAC/Brazil-brokered meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines. pic.twitter.com/MVb3qsR90G

— President Dr Irfan Ali (@presidentaligy) December 14, 2023

Read too: Brazil says it hopes for a peaceful outcome between Venezuela and Guyana

On the part of Venezuela, the understanding was that the position remains unchanged, although in a publication on the government’s social networks there was talk of continuing the dialogue “in order to resolve the controversy”.

#LaFoto 📸 | Handshake seals the willingness of Venezuela and Guyana to continue the dialogue, in order to resolve the controversy in relation to the Essequibo territory. pic.twitter.com/zIuAj3rKBG

— Presidential Press (@PresidencialVen) December 14, 2023

This Thursday morning, Maduro shared on his personal networks an edition of a digital weekly, called Cuatro F, which highlights the map of Venezuela with the territory of Essequibo incorporated. The publication has text that cites the meeting with Irfaan Ali as a great achievement, although it contains criticism of ExxonMobil, which explores oil in Guyana. The articles accuse the United States company of adopting a model without environmental responsibility.

Read too: Mauro Vieira says that peace in South America is essential and defends dialogue

In the same document, Maduro reports that he spoke with President Lula, who called him to listen to what he had to say. In this excerpt, the Venezuelan says that it was a friendly conversation and that Lula is a respectful leader, of a world power, which is Brazil. From this conversation, the Brazilian committed to maintaining direct dialogue to resolve the issue, which Maduro said seeks a resolution through diplomatic and peaceful means.

Meeting

The two presidents were urged to meet through Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean Caribbean States), Caricom (Caribbean Community) and Brazilian diplomacy. The presidency’s special advisor, diplomat Celso Amorim, attended the meeting. Brazil’s position has been in defense of dialogue and against actions that worsen the conflict.

Declaration

Still on Thursday night, at 10:30 pm Brasília time, President Nicolás Maduro published a joint statement approved by those present on his personal profile.

In one of the points of the declaration it is said that Guyana and Venezuela agreed not to threaten each other and not to use force under any circumstances.