Venezuelan, Guyanese presidents to discuss Esequibo dispute

By Sinan Dogan

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Guyana President Irfaan Ali will meet face-to-face Dec. 14 to discuss the disputed Esequibo region.

The leaders will meet in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines where they will be accompanied by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves expressed in a letter to both leaders the urgent need for Venezuela's and Guyana's presidents to engage in a face-to-face, detailed dialogue that would be beneficial for everyone, considering the events and situations surrounding the territorial dispute.

​​​​​​​It highlighted that both presidents support the pursuit of living together peacefully.

The regional blocs of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are mediating to bring the parties together.

Brazil's President Lula da Silva will join the meeting at the request of Guyana and Venezuela, following his call for dialogue and a telephone conversation with Maduro.

"I always activate Bolivarian peace diplomacy to the maximum to defend Venezuela's historical rights. Once again, we will overcome lies, provocations, and threats," Maduro wrote on X.

After a referendum in Venezuela that claimed ownership of the Esequibo region, Caracas threatened to take control of three-quarters of Guyana's territory.

-Esequibo dispute

The Venezuela-Guyana Esequibo dispute originated before Guyana's independence, with conflicting claims on the Esequibo region.

The 1899 arbitration set the Esequibo River as Guyana's western border. But Guyana, post-independence in 1966, contested the ruling and asserted ownership of Esequibo.

The region, known as Guyana Esequiba, which is rich in natural resources, is now a point of contention.