Venezuela border controversy: ICJ to hear 1 week of oral hearings starting May 4 

The oral hearings in the border controversy case against Venezuela at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are set to begin on Monday, May 4, and are expected to last for at least one week, with the possibility of extending further depending on the Court’s schedule.
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, made the disclosure during the latest episode of his online programme “Issues in the News” on Tuesday. He explained that the hearings will continue daily throughout the week and could spill over into the following week if necessary.
Nandlall also confirmed that he will be part of Guyana’s legal team appearing before the World Court, representing the country’s interests during the proceedings.
“Will come on for hearing on Monday, 4 May 2026, and the hearings will continue each and every day of that week and are likely to go over to the following week should the court decide it necessary to do so. Yours truly will join our team of international lawyers and will be appearing for and representing the interest of Guyana at that important hearing,” Nandlall noted.
The case, which was filed by Guyana in March 2018, seeks a final and binding settlement regarding the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that established the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
Venezuela, however, continues to lay claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, including the entire Essequibo region and portions of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The offshore area has gained significant international attention following the discovery of over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with ongoing production and exploration activities.
The ICJ had previously affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case in December 2020, clearing the way for the matter to proceed to the merits stage. The written phase concluded in 2025, with both Guyana and Venezuela submitting two rounds of pleadings, the most recent from Venezuela being filed in August of that year.
During the upcoming hearings, both countries will present oral arguments outlining their respective positions. Following this phase, the Court will deliberate before issuing a final judgement, which will be legally binding on both parties under international law.
Guyana has consistently maintained its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the controversy through the ICJ process, in accordance with international law and the United Nations framework.
Meanwhile, earlier this year Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd had expressed confidence in Guyana’s case, noting the strength and preparedness of the country’s legal team. He indicated that while caution remains important, the Government is optimistic about securing a favourable ruling, which is anticipated later this year.
Venezuela has been heightening its aggressive tactics towards Guyana over the years. Just over a year ago on March 1, 2025, there was an incursion into Guyana’s waters by Venezuelan naval vessels which threatened several oil vessels operating there, something which was widely condemned by the international community, including the United States.
However, there was a belief that the January 3 capture of Maduro and his wife in Caracas by US troops to face criminal indictments in New York would have seen an ease in aggression from the Spanish-speaking neighbour. But just last month, Guyana had to reaffirm the country’s sovereignty over its maritime jurisdiction, telling Caracas that it has no legal rights to the waters off of Guyana’s coast.
This was after Venezuela had raised objections to a decision made by the Guyana Government to advance a three-dimensional multi-client seismic exploration to gather data from a 25,000 square kilometre offshore area within Guyana’s EEZ.