The Government of Guyana has formally dispatched a letter of protest to the Government of Venezuela following the incursion by the Venezuelan Coast Guard in Guyana’s waters last Saturday.

In the letter, the Government said it reminded Venezuela that all the activities which the Government of Guyana has authorized to be undertaken in its Exclusive Economic Zone are entirely within the maritime areas appurtenant to the sovereign coastal territory of Guyana, as defined by the Arbitral Award of 1899, which established the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela.

Further, it said consistent with well-established principles of international law in respect of this maritime area, Guyana enjoys sovereignty up to 12 nautical miles in the territorial sea, and sovereign rights beyond 12 nautical miles in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.

The Guyana Government said the latest action by the Government of Venezuela has done nothing but pose a threat to the peace, good order and security of the sovereign territory of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the stability of the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The Government made it clear that Guyana views this maneuver as highly provocative and is concerned by the persistence of the Government of Venezuela in encroaching on Guyana’s land and maritime territory.

The Government of Guyana also reminded the Government of Venezuela of its international obligations under general international law, the United Nations Charter and the Order issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023 which states that: “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area”

Additionally, that order stated that both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.

The Guyana Government said as the only State entitled to administer and exercise control over the Essequibo Region pending the final Judgment by the Court, Guyana enjoys the right to administer and exercise control over the adjacent maritime areas.

It noted that the aggressive behaviour by Venezuela’s naval warship on March 1, 2025 violates the Court’s prohibition on engaging in any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute.

The Government said it is concerned that this latest act by Venezuela is an escalation of the tensions Venezuela has created by first  publicly announcing that it will hold elections in Guyana’s sovereign territory for a Governor of Guyana’s Essequibo region in May.

According to the Government, such hostile acts are inconsistent with the obligation of the Parties to respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, and to resolve disputes by peaceful means, and thus can only be viewed as a threat to the peace, security and stability of the Latin American and Caribbean region.

It noted that in recent times, Venezuela has resorted to a series of aggressive actions in the Guyana/ Venezuela border region.

“These include the deployment of armoured personnel carriers, battle tanks, and patrol boats to Ankoko (the island through which the international boundary between Venezuela and Guyana passes, the eastern portion of which belongs to Guyana but was seized by Venezuela in 1966), and an exponential increase in the presence of Venezuelan troops along the border. Compounding this threat to Guyana, Venezuela constructed a bridge connecting the Venezuelan mainland to Guyana’s part of Ankoko Island. The completion of this bridge in December 2024, significantly bolsters Venezuela’s military capabilities, enhancing offensive strategies.”

The statement from the Government of Guyana said Guyana has always employed a diplomacy of peace and abided by the principles of the United Nations Charter and the rule of international law, and will not however, countenance the annexation, seizure or occupation of any part of our sovereign territory or the threat thereof, nor will Guyana accept any threats to Guyana’s licensees operating lawfully in the waters adjacent to the Essequibo Region.

This latest incident has been brought to the attention of the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the Caribbean Community and the Commonwealth as well as Member States of the international community.

Guyana will continue to update the international community on developments in this matter, the Government noted.

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