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Venezuela’s Rodriguez Heads to Final Essequibo Hearing in Netherlands
(MENAFN) The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has reached the Netherlands ahead of the concluding hearings at the International Court of Justice concerning the decades-old territorial dispute with Guyana over the oil- and mineral-rich Essequibo region.
According to reports, Rodriguez arrived on Sunday at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport as she prepared to lead Venezuela’s delegation in the final stage of proceedings scheduled for Monday in The Hague. The case revolves around competing claims to a vast territory of roughly 62,000 square miles, which is believed to contain significant reserves of gold, diamonds, timber, and offshore oil.
After her arrival, Rodriguez reportedly stated that Venezuela has consistently defended its claim throughout its history, saying Venezuela had “demonstrated at every historical stage what our territory has meant since we were born as a Republic.”
The legal dispute was brought before the International Court of Justice in 2018 by Guyana, which is seeking confirmation of a 19th-century arbitration decision made in 1899 that defined the current border during the colonial era. Venezuela, however, argues that a 1966 agreement signed with Britain invalidates that ruling and forms the basis for a negotiated settlement instead.
The case has developed into one of the most significant territorial disputes under review by the court, with the contested region representing a large portion of Guyana’s land area and holding substantial natural resources, especially offshore oil deposits that have boosted regional economic and geopolitical stakes.
Venezuela has also maintained that its participation in the hearings does not mean it accepts the authority of the ICJ over the dispute. Despite this position, the court continues to proceed with the case, which has already passed key jurisdictional challenges in previous years.
A final judgment is expected in the coming months, though the ruling will not be immediately enforceable without support from international political bodies.
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