G7 nations demand Venezuela halt threats against Guyana’s sovereignty

…condemn Maduro’s Naval intimidation tactics

The G7 Nations, which is made up of the world’s most powerful economies and military powers, has effectively demanded that the Venezuelan Navy stop threatening Guyana’s commercial interests in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), labelling the most recent incursion as unacceptable.
Following a meeting of the Foreign Ministers representing the G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA)—along with the European Union (EU) in Quebec, Canada, a joint statement was issued.
That joint statement included references to Venezuela and the intimidatory tactics it has been using against Guyana to support its spurious claims to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. This includes the March 1 incident when a Venezuelan naval vessel entered Guyana’s waters where ExxonMobil is producing oil, in an act of intimidation that has since been roundly condemned by Guyana and the international community.
According to the statement, it was agreed by the grouping that Venezuela’s navy continuing to threaten Guyana’s commercial vessels and interest is unacceptable. In calling for Venezuela to halt these actions, the G7 grouping made it clear that such acts violate Guyana’s internationally recognised sovereign rights. According to the group, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations must be respected.
“We also agreed Venezuelan naval vessels threatening Guyana’s commercial vessels is unacceptable and an infringement of Guyana’s internationally recognised sovereign rights. We reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations as an enduring value,” the G7 nations stated.

Venezuela’s democratic woes were also commented on, with the G7 group calling for the restoration of democracy since the Venezuelan people’s votes were hijacked on July 28, 2024. They also called for the halt of arbitrary arrests of peaceful protestors including youths and the release of political prisoners.
“We reiterated our call for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela in line with the aspirations of the Venezuelan people who peacefully voted on July 28, 2024, for change, the cessation of repression and arbitrary or unjust detentions of peaceful protestors including youth by Nicolás Maduro’s regime, as well as the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners.”
Venezuela has indicated plans to hold elections on May 25, 2025, to appoint a Governor and other leaders for Guyana’s Essequibo region, which is two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass. Then, on March 1, there was an incursion of a Venezuelan naval vessel in Guyana’s EEZ, where over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent have been discovered by US oil major ExxonMobil, which is currently conducting production and exploration activities in the oil-rich Stabroek Block.
Following the Venezuela vessel’s incursion, the Guyana Government activated a series of responses, including the deployment of military resources offshore, engaging the international community and sending a formal protest note to Caracas.
Guyana reminded that all the activities which the Government of Guyana has authorised to be undertaken in its EEZ are entirely within the maritime areas appurtenant to the sovereign coastal territory of Guyana, as defined by the Arbitral Award of 1899.
Moreover, just a few weeks prior, six members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) came under attack by Venezuelan men on the border. The February 17, 2025, attack injured the six troops – all with gunshot wounds. Initial reports had indicated that some of the Venezuelan men died, after Guyana’s soldiers returned fire.
Only recently, Guyana wrote the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to block Venezuela’s attempt to conduct elections in the Essequibo region. The Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry filed in the Registry of the ICJ, a Request for the indication of provisional measures in the case concerning Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela).
Guyana is asking the court to order Venezuela to refrain from any acts within or affecting its sovereign territory, including the Essequibo region. Guyana informed the World Court that the planned Venezuelan elections would inevitably be preceded by preparatory acts, including acts within Guyana’s Essequibo region, affecting the Guyanese population and Guyana’s sovereignty over its territory.
This is the second time Guyana has sought provisional measures from the World Court, which is currently hearing a case to settle the decades-old border controversy between the two South American neighbours.
Guyana initiated the case back in March 2018, asking the ICJ to issue a final and binding ruling that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the international boundary with Venezuela, is legally valid.