Essequibo on the Scales of History: The Evolution of the Position of Guyana on the Territorial Dispute with Venezuela

The resource-rich Essequibo region, located in northeastern South America and occupying two-thirds of the territory of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, has long been disputed by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. At the same time, the tensions have been escalating in recent years, making this conflict one of the most explosive in Latin America, which was declared a Zone of Peace in 2014, where any disputes must be resolved exclusively through negotiations, and the principle of national sovereignty is elevated to the absolute. The discovery of large offshore oil fields has significantly increased Guyana’s role in regional politics. The rapid economic growth of the Caribbean state is attracting increasing attention from experts to its history and the peculiarities of modern development. Given that, this article analyzes the territorial dispute over Essequibo from the perspective of the ruling elites of Guyana and traces the evolution of the state’s approaches to conflict resolution. Using historical and comparative as well as historical and genetic methods, the strategies of governments of the Cooperative Republic are studied – from the moment of gaining independence until present. As a result of the study, it was found that the finality of the 1899 arbitration award and the fact of its longterm recognition by Venezuela underlie the position of Guyana, which has not formally changed throughout the state’s independent existence. Nevertheless, in practice, it was accompanied by significant tactical adjustments to the negotiating strategy. An analysis of the speeches of Guyanese politicians and decisions made by presidential administrations has allowed to identify the key factors that led to the evolution of the state’s position on the territorial issue over the past 60 years. Firstly, the dynamics of Venezuela’s foreign policy course has played a significant role, as its governments have made claims on Essequibo with varying intensity at different periods. Secondly, the transformation of the international and regional order has had a significant impact, primarily due to the end of the ideological confrontation between the superpowers and their allies during the Cold War. Finally, the internal development of the Co-operative Republic has become a determining factor: economic crises, the beginning of oil production and the inter-party struggle have directly influenced the adjustment of the state’s approach. At the same time, the use of the border dispute as a tool to retain power can be traced throughout the entire political history of the Caribbean state.

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