The United Nations Security Council is set to discuss and address Venezuela’s recent moves to declare Guyana’s Essequibo region a new Venezuelan state.

President Irfaan Ali made the request for the matter to come up before the UN Security Council, according to Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud.

In a statement on the social media platform, X, which was previously known as Twitter, the Foreign Secretary said the UN Security Council will address the Venezuelan President’s violation of the rules of international law requiring States to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other States, as well as the International Court of Justice’s Order on Provisional Measures of December 1, 2023, which prohibits Venezuela from taking any action to interfere with Guyana’s administration and control of its Essequibo Region pending the Court’s final ruling on the merits of the controversy.

Guyana is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Guyana’s decision to approach the UN Security Council on the matter follows the decision of the Venezuelan President last week to sign new legislation into law declaring Guyana’s Essequibo as a new Venezuelan state and putting systems in place for the defence of Guyana’s Essequibo.

Guyana has rejected the move by Caracas, and has informed the international community of the move. The Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States have both criticised the move by Venezuela as contrary to the most basic principles of international law, which they believe reaffirms the dictatorial pattern of the regime in Venezuela.

Guyana currently has Venezuela before the International Court of Justice, seeking a final juridical on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which settled the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

On Monday, Venezuela filed its response to Guyana’s case before the ICJ, although it has repeatedly refused to recognise the Court’s jurisdiction on the matter. The Court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case. President Irfaan Ali has welcomed Venezuela’s decision to file its response to Guyana’s Court case. In a statement on Monday night, the President said he hopes Venezuela will continue to fully engage in the process before the International Court.

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