Guyana updates Caricom on Venezuela’s “complete disregard” for Argyle peace pact

Guyana has updated Member States within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on the latest acts of aggression by Venezuela. Caricom leaders met virtually on Friday afternoon to discuss a range of key issues in the region. These talks come ahead of next week’s visit by United States (US) Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who will embark on a three-nation Caribbean tour that includes Guyana.
On the sidelines of the sod turning ceremony for the state-of-the-art $831 million polyclinic in Kitty/Campbellville on Saturday, President Dr Irfaan Ali told reporters that Venezuela’s recent incursion into Guyana’s waters was discussed by regional Heads during the high-level engagement.
“Of course, Caricom reiterated its strong commitment and support to Guyana, our sovereignty and our territorial integrity,” he noted.
The Nicolás Maduro-led regime’s latest acts of aggression towards Guyana include the incursion of a Venezuelan naval vessel into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on March 1 and the announcement by Venezuela to hold an election in Essequibo – Guyana’s territory, which is two-thirds of the country’s landmass – on May 25, 2025.
Caricom has already condemned Venezuela’s plans to hold elections in Guyana’s Essequibo and had also urged the Spanish-speaking nation to remove its vessel from Guyana’s waters.

According to the Head of State on Saturday, these actions reflect Venezuela’s blatant disregard for the Argyle Declaration – a December 14, 2023 peace pact that Presidents Ali and Maduro signed during the historic Caricom/CELAC/Brazil-brokered dialogue in St Vincent and the Grenadines to maintain peace in the region.
“I had the opportunity to update Caricom on all aspect of the matter – not only in relation to the latest incursion but to the complete disregard for the Argyle Declaration by Venezuela [with] not only the calling of the elections but as you’re aware, the building of the bridge [at Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River] that connects to our territory,” President Ali stated on Saturday, adding “…These are all acts not in keeping with the Argyle Declaration and that was also discussed.”
The Guyanese leader has already rejected a proposal by Maduro to meet, sending a strong statement to the Venezuelan President on Friday that Guyana will not engage in any dialogue under duress.
Based on reports coming out of Caracas, Maduro has recently called for a face-to-face meeting with President Ali over the heightened tension between the two South American countries – something which the Guyana Government shut down.
In fact, the Guyanese Head of State had informed regional leaders including the Argyle Interlocutor, Prime Minister (PM) of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, of this position.
On Tuesday, PM Gonsalves travelled to Caracas to meet with Maduro over the latter’s continued acts of provocation against Guyana. It was further indicated, via a statement issued by the St Vincent Government on Tuesday that PM Gonsalves also spoke to President Ali on Monday, presumably via phone, to urge calm and restraint.
Speaking at the Commissioning of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps’ Hangar at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Friday, President Ali said the actions of Venezuela demonstrates the country’s lack of respect for the rule of law and shows that they are not serious. He noted that while Guyana believes in diplomacy, this must be done with respect and trust.
“If Venezuela wants to talk, let it first undo the acts that are in violation of the Argyle Declaration and the orders of the ICJ (International Court of Justice). We are all for dialogue but dialogue with respect, dialogue with dignity, dialogue with a sense of purpose and dialogue that we can trust… Let [Venezuela] first demonstrate good faith. Let it first respect the rule of law. Until then, there will be no talks.”
“To Venezuela, the message is simple, respect our sovereignty; threaten our sovereignty and we will resist. Guyana will not be intimidated, Guyana will not be coerced and let me repeat for those who still doubt, we will defend every square inch of our land, we will protect every drop of water of our seas, we will safeguard every citizen of this land,” President Ali asserted.
Meanwhile, Guyana has also written the ICJ seeking to block attempts by the Maduro-led Venezuelan regime to hold elections in the Essequibo region.
Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd told the Guyana Times that the ICJ has already given Venezuela until the end of March to respond its plans to hold elections in Guyana’s territory.
The Guyanese Government informed the World Court, which is currently hearing a case to settle the decades-long border controversy between the two South American neighbours, that such actions by Venezuela “flagrantly violate” the provisional measures issued by the court in December 2023 which barred Venezuela from any aggression towards Guyana.