Essequibo, the country’s resource-rich half, spans 160,000 square kilometers (62,000 square miles). This issue has emerged as the central campaign plank in the forthcoming Venezuelan elections. Essequibo is bordered by thick jungles, endless rivers, and beautiful snow-capped mountains. The region is home to natural resources like oil and gold, and Venezuela aggressively asserts this territory as its own. The ongoing political struggle surrounding this region underscores the complexities of national identity and resource management in both Venezuela and its neighbor, Guyana.
Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo has historical roots, and tensions have increased since Venezuela’s claim is still ongoing as that country nears its own elections. With an estimated 125,000 residents—about 15% of Guyana’s total population of 800,000—Essequibo accounts for approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s land area. In 2006, the Maduro regime formally changed its flag. The star was added to represent Essequibo, breathing new life into advocating for its inclusion in national conversations and discussions. With the elections fast approaching, Oliver Rivas, a candidate for Essequibo, is focused on changing the game. He thinks these regional elections are key to reestablishing Venezuela’s decades-old claim to the territory.
Uneasy Relations with Guyana
Venezuela has controlled the Essequibo region for over a century, but tensions have been on the rise in recent months. Guyanese troops claimed to be fired upon by armed men dressed in civilian clothes believed to be members of the Venezuelan military. The international community, especially the United States, has been alarmed by Venezuela’s hostile moves. In March, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken threatened Venezuela with repercussions for doing exactly that.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), for one, is paying extraordinarily close attention. On May 1, the court ordered that Venezuela not conduct any elections in the Essequibo region pending the court’s decision on the territory dispute. This ruling introduces yet another unpredictable variable into the already precarious balance of power between Venezuela and Guyana.
“If they take forceful action, they would have the international community, starting with the United States, against them,” – Sadio Garavini di Turno.
For the Maduro administration, the UN is an instrument of foreign meddling in particular from adversarial states like the United States. This heinous image surely makes Venezuela’s diplomatic situation more complicated. While the country continues to assert its claims over Essequibo, it hopes to remain constitutionally legitimate in the view of its own citizens.
The Significance of Elections
Oliver Rivas’s candidacy represents the beginning of a larger wave in Venezuela’s movement to reclaim sovereignty over Essequibo. Rivas claims that losing control of the region would be disastrous for Venezuela’s long-term interests. He calls attention to the area’s vast mineral and oil deposits.
“It’s absolutely terrible because, behind this, there’s an aspiration to control mineral wealth, oil, sources of fossil energy and even the water wealth that exists in all of that territory,” – Oliver Rivas.
With regional elections approaching, Rivas and his movement enjoyed a perfect opportunity to mobilize public sentiment. They want to raise more diplomatic support for the Essequibo claim. As the Center recently reported, analysts are warning that these elections may not lead to true political authority for local leaders.
Carmen Beatriz Fernandez comments on the nature of elections in Venezuela:
“In other words, a model where you have many elections, but the votes don’t jeopardise real political power.”
This common sentiment speaks to a larger distrust about the genuineness of democratic practices in Venezuela.
Looking Ahead
The political machinations around Essequibo are set for further tumult, as elections approach in the next month or so. The Maduro government is under severe internal pressures to uphold the narrative at all costs while defending relations externally riddled with tension and uncertainty.
Orlando Moreno emphasizes the need for legal expertise in addressing the issue:
“It’s about approaching the recovery of the Essequibo with real jurists who know the subject, without any kind of armed conflict.”
As Venezuela prepares for its elections, it remains to be seen how Essequibo will influence both domestic politics and international relationships. It remains to be seen whether this gambit by the Maduro administration will strengthen its position or result in deeper global stage isolation.
