Politics CARICOM, CUBA, DEMOCRACY, GONSALVES, GOVERNMENT OF ST, GUYANA GOVERNMENT, INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, IRFAAN ALI, LATIN AMERICA, MADURO, NATIONAL SECURITY, NORTH AMERICA, OAS, RALPH GONSALVES, SECURITY, SOUTH AMERICA, ST. VINCENT, UK, US, VENEZUELA Dante Raeburn March 18, 2025 0 Comments

St. Vincent Prime Minister Engages with Maduro to Address Guyana-Venezuela Tensions

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, St. Vincent’s Prime Minister, is visiting Venezuela to discuss escalating tensions with President Maduro regarding a border dispute with Guyana. He urges calm and diplomacy amid concerns over military actions and potential conflict, cautioning against the economic fallout for both nations and the region. The International Court of Justice’s involvement raises further complexities.

The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has traveled to Venezuela to engage in discussions with President Nicolas Maduro regarding the escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over a border issue. Dr. Gonsalves, who also serves as the Interlocutor of the Argyle Declaration, is expected to meet with Maduro this midday after his arrival in Venezuela yesterday evening.

In a recent statement, the Government of St. Vincent indicated that Prime Minister Gonsalves had a conversation with President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, advocating for calm and urging both nations to prioritize diplomacy. He emphasized the grave economic and social repercussions an armed conflict could have on both nations, as well as the potential to destabilize the broader Latin American and Caribbean region.

The tensions between Guyana and Venezuela heightened following a Venezuelan naval vessel’s incursion into Guyanese waters two weeks ago, where it challenged oil ship captains operating in the area. The Venezuelan crew falsely asserted that the ships were in their territorial waters, which compelled Guyana to initiate sea and aerial surveillance and notify the international community about the incident.

President Irfaan Ali characterized this incident as a serious escalation and received prompt condemnation of Venezuela’s actions from the US, UK, CARICOM, The Commonwealth, and the Organization of American States (OAS). In response, Prime Minister Gonsalves recognized that the oil ships were operating within Guyana’s territory, although he expressed skepticism that tensions would dissipate even after the International Court of Justice provides its ruling on the historical border dispute.

The dispute centers around an 1899 settlement, which Guyana seeks to have recognized by the court. Notably, in December 2023, Presidents Ali and Maduro met in St. Vincent, issuing the Argyle Declaration pledging to abstain from threats or the use of force. However, subsequent actions by Venezuela have raised concerns, particularly the planning of regional elections and military presence in disputed waters.

Critically, the International Court of Justice has previously mandated that Venezuela refrain from actions that could alter the status quo in the Essequibo region, an area administered by Guyana. Nonetheless, Guyana alleges that Venezuela’s recent activities contradict both the court’s ruling and the Argyle Declaration. In light of these developments, President Ali has stated that he will not engage further with President Maduro for the time being.

The diplomatic dialogues between St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro aim to de-escalate tensions with Guyana over the border dispute. Despite historical agreements and court rulings, tensions persist due to Venezuela’s military actions and electoral plans in contested waters. The situation remains precarious, with significant implications for regional stability. Both leaders are called to focus on diplomatic resolutions to avert potential conflict.

Original Source: newssourcegy.com