Commonwealth, UK, and US reaffirm support for Guyana’s sovereignty, strongly condemn Venezuela’s aggression

Guyana continues to receive immense international support following Venezuela’s illegal entry into its exclusive maritime zone on Saturday.

Local and international partners remain resolute against any intimidatory acts ordered by Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, and are firm in their stance on Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Secretary-General of the 56-member Commonwealth of Nations, Patricia Scotland KC, expressed alarm at Venezuela’s bold intrusion into Guyana’s waters and its false declaration to offshore oil and gas assets that they are illegally operating in what it calls “disputed international waters.”

The Commonwealth Secretary-General strongly condemned Venezuela’s actions and urged the international community and the Commonwealth family to continue their support for Guyana.

She also praised Guyana’s measured and responsible response through diplomatic engagement. Scotland reminded all parties of the Argyle Agreement for peace between Guyana and Venezuela, emphasising that Venezuela’s actions run counter to the spirit of this joint declaration for dialogue and peaceful resolution.

She further urged Venezuela to respect international law and adhere to the unanimous Order on Provisional Measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 1, 2023.

The ruling stated that, pending the Court’s 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.”

Referring to ExxonMobil’s oil and gas operations offshore Guyana, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the U.S. would not allow “thugs” like Nicolás Maduro to put American interests at risk while violating Guyana’s sovereignty.

Warning

A day earlier, the US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs also condemned Venezuela’s incursion, issuing a firm warning that further intimidation by Venezuela would result in consequences for the Maduro regime.

The Bureau described Venezuela’s behaviour as a “threat” and a clear violation of Guyana’s internationally recognised maritime territory.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also denounced Venezuela for unlawfully entering Guyana’s maritime space and threatening its offshore oil and gas assets.

He reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast support for Guyana’s internationally recognised territorial integrity and urged Venezuela to cease its provocative actions against its South American neighbour.

The Dominican Republic also expressed “profound rejection” of the incursion by a Venezuelan armed vessel into Guyana’s waters. It denounced Venezuela’s provocation and reaffirmed its strong support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Dominican Republic further called for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic dialogue and adherence to international law.

Strong Domestic Condemnation

At home, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) strongly condemned Venezuela’s bold entry into Guyana’s waters and its challenge to the country’s offshore oil and gas operations.

The GCCI stated that aggression toward Guyana “cannot continue with impunity” and warned that such actions threaten peace and stability across the entire region.

The Chamber offered firm support for any actions Guyana may take in defending itself, reiterating that the Essequibo region, along with the country’s entire 83,000 square miles and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is the property of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Similarly, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) condemned Venezuela’s unauthorised entry into Guyanese waters and its threats to ExxonMobil’s Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) unit operating within Guyana’s internationally recognised EEZ.

“This action by Venezuela represents a direct violation of international law, which all states are required to uphold, and threatens not only Guyana’s territorial sovereignty but also the stability and economic security of our region,” the GMSA stated.

The manufacturing body reaffirmed its full solidarity with the Government of Guyana and expressed support for all diplomatic and legal measures to uphold the country’s rights under the 1899 Arbitral Award and the ongoing ICJ proceedings.

The GMSA further emphasised that Guyana’s recent economic growth has been driven by stability and security, both of which are now under threat due to Venezuela’s unwarranted aggression. It warned that such actions jeopardise the business community, multinational interests, and investor confidence.

The organieation reiterated its commitment to peace, stability, and regional cooperation, calling for a diplomatic resolution to the dispute. However, it stressed that “the onus remains on Venezuela to respect international law and uphold mutual respect.”

Former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo (Washington Speakers Bureau photo)

UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy (The Guardian photo)