Guyana is best poised to permanently resolve Venezuela’s claim on its territory if the government is prepared to take bold steps with the support of the international community.
For decades, Venezuela has been making unsubstantiated claims to Guyana’s territory, despite the dispute being settled by the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899. This award included setting a boundary on Ankoko Island, apportioning the island between Guyana and Venezuela which was affirmed in 1905.
In 1966, five months after Guyana gained independence, Venezuelan armed forces crossed this boundary and began their illegal occupation of Ankoko Island, located at the confluence of the Cuyuni and Wenamu Rivers, on the border between Venezuela and Guyana.
The time has now come for Guyana to take decisive steps to counter the ongoing belligerence from Venezuela and end the illegal occupation of Guyanese territory. With potentially billions of dollars in revenue from oil, rare earth minerals, and infrastructure development by international companies, Guyana is in a historically unprecedented strong position.
Guyana is rapidly developing in partnership with a host of international allies, many of whom only recently became aware of this English-speaking South American country. These partners are now keenly interested in Guyana’s wealth of natural resources, especially its oil. To ensure this economic progress continues, Guyana must dispel the cloud of uncertainty caused by Venezuela’s intransigence and baseless territorial fantasies.
Steps must be taken to counter Venezuela’s actions and threats. As a first step, Guyana should deploy a team of law enforcement and construction workers to establish a physical border with a demilitarized zone on Ankoko Island. This bold tactic may test Guyana’s relationships with its allies, but those allies must stand on the side of international law and long-established treaties.
It is obvious to many who follow international strategic security and diplomacy that the time is now or never. Guyana’s future hangs in the balance, as large international investors are wary of geopolitical instability. The moment has come for Guyana to act decisively and secure its borders, ensuring a stable and prosperous future.
Derek Singer
