Venezuela border controversy: “Explanation” on aggression tactic at Guyana’s border forthcoming – Venezuelan envoy tells Min Todd

The Nicolás Maduro-led Venezuelan regime is expected to provide an explanation for its aggressive tactics at the border with Guyana, including the recently constructed bridge connecting Venezuela’s mainland to Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River, where the Venezuelan army maintains a military base.
This was indicated by Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, during a high-level meeting with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, on Thursday in Georgetown.
That engagement followed remarks made by President Dr Irfaan Ali earlier on Thursday when he reminded officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) that diplomacy is a key aspect of Guyana’s defence strategy in the face of threats to the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. As a result, the Head of State said the Foreign Affairs Ministry was asked to write to international partners including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Venezuela, renewing Guyana’s condemnation of the bridge that was built on Ankoko Island.
During Thursday’s meeting, this issue was brought up by Minister Todd.
“Guyana also registered its formal protest of the completion of a bridge built by the Venezuelan armed forces to link the Venezuelan mainland to Ankoko Island, and specifically to the military base which is situated on the part of Ankoko Island that belongs to Guyana,” a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday detailed.

Under the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, and the Boundary Agreement of 1905, the international boundary passes through Ankoko Island, dividing the island between Guyana and Venezuela with Guyana’s sovereignty extending over the territory east of the boundary line.
But while Ankoko Island is shared by the two South American neighbours, Venezuela illegally took over the entire island and established a military base there in 1966 after Guyana gained independence. Then earlier this year, there were reports along with satellite images shared of Venezuela’s National Armed Forces building a bridge to Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River.
According to Thursday’s missive, “Venezuela’s activities, including its military activities east of the boundary line thus violate Guyana’s sovereignty, and international law requires that they be halted and that all personnel, facilities or equipment built or brought there by Venezuela be removed.”
Nevertheless, after hearing the Guyanese Minister’s submission, Ambassador Perez Silva posited that Caracas is in receipt of Guyana’s protest note and an explanation from his Headquarters would be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, Minister Todd also used the opportunity to express Guyana’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, the rule of international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reminded of the provisional measures issued by the ICJ on December 1, 2023.
The World Court had ordered: “(1) Unanimously, Pending a 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; [and] (2) Unanimously, Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”
Minister Todd further iterated Guyana’s commitment to the Joint Declaration of Argyle of December 14, 2023, during which both Presidents Ali and Maduro agreed not to threaten or use force against each other in any circumstances and committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence, and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.
On the other hand, the two officials also discussed the ongoing border controversy case before the ICJ, where Guyana is seeking a final and binding ruling of the 1899 Arbitral Award that determined the boundary between the two South American neighbours.
The Spanish-speaking nation is claiming more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in the Essequibo region and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels have been discovered over the past nine years.
Only earlier this month, Guyana submitted its final written reply to Venezuela’s counter-memorial, pointing out that the Spanish-speaking nation’s case is without merit and that ultimately, the court will confirm the 1899 award as valid and legally binding.
In the merits phase of the case, Guyana’s Memorial was submitted on April 8, 2023, and Venezuela’s Counter-Memorial was made one year later on April 8, 2024. Now with Guyana’s Reply filed on December 9 as set out by the ICJ, Venezuela will have the opportunity to respond with its Rejoinder, due on August 8, 2025.
The Venezuelan diplomat acknowledged these recent developments in the case during Thursday’s engagement, where Minister Todd reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the ICJ process and ultimately, the court’s decision.
It was previously reported that the ICJ will in due time set a date for the oral hearings between Guyana and Venezuela to commence. (G-8)