France has expressed concerns over Venezuela’s military actions in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, urging respect for international law. Following Venezuela’s naval presence near Guyana’s oil assets, calls for restraint have come from various international entities, including the United States. The territorial dispute remains under adjudication by the ICJ as tensions continue between the two nations.
France has recently voiced its concern regarding Venezuela’s military incursion into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, urging the Venezuelan government to refrain from repeating such actions that violate provisional measures set by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2023. In a statement, France called on Venezuela to respect Guyana’s sovereignty and to adhere to international law and the ICJ’s order from December 1, 2023, which requests Venezuela to avoid unilateral actions that could alter the status quo in the Essequibo region.
The situation escalated when Guyana alerted the international community about a Venezuelan naval vessel that lingered near its oil assets for approximately four hours over the weekend. Following this incident, both the United States and regional organizations, including CARICOM and the OAS, urged Venezuela to prevent any further provocations towards ExxonMobil’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, emphasizing the need to respect Guyana’s territorial integrity.
Washington has issued a stark warning to Venezuela regarding potential consequences for the Maduro regime if such aggressive actions persist, reaffirming its support for Guyana and the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award. Meanwhile, Venezuela has countered the statements from Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, rejecting them as unfounded claims and asserting that the waters in question are disputed maritime areas.
Venezuela’s naval vessel reportedly contacted the FPSO Prosperity and other vessels in the Stabroek Block, asserting that they were operating within Venezuelan waters. The contentious territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana is currently pending before the ICJ, which has acknowledged its jurisdiction over the matter and is set to decide based on the merits of the case.
In January, the Guyana government expressed serious concerns over actions and statements from Venezuela, characterizing them as clear violations of both the Argyle Agreement and the binding decree of the ICJ that took effect in December 2023. Guyana reiterated that the Argyle Agreement, established in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, strictly commits both nations to avoiding escalation in their territorial disagreements until resolution under international law can be achieved.
In summary, France has joined other nations in expressing apprehension regarding Venezuela’s military actions in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The international community is rallying to support Guyana’s territorial claims, while Venezuela remains defiant, insisting that its actions are justified. As both nations await the ICJ’s ruling, the calls for diplomatic resolution and respect for international agreements are becoming paramount.
Original Source: jamaica-gleaner.com
