El Esequibo, el territorio que enfrenta a Venezuela y Guyana desde hace casi dos siglos | BBC Mundo
Dispute Over Esequibo: A Historical Overview
Background of the Territorial Dispute
- The territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Esequibo region has persisted for over 180 years, covering approximately 159,000 square kilometers, which is larger than Nicaragua but smaller than Uruguay. This area constitutes about 60% of Guyana's territory.
- The recent escalation in tensions is attributed to significant oil discoveries beneath the waters of this disputed region, which Guyana has begun to exploit. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed intentions to "reconquer" this territory.
Historical Context
- The origins of the dispute predate Guyana's independence from the UK in 1966 and trace back to colonial control by Spain, the Netherlands, and Britain. The British acquired it through a treaty with the Dutch in 1814 that did not clearly define western borders.
- For both Gran Colombia (founded in 1819) and later Venezuela (independent since 1830), the border with British Guiana was understood to be defined by the Esequibo River, a fact initially accepted by Britain until gold discoveries shifted their ambitions.
Key Developments in Border Definition
- In response to gold discoveries in Venezuelan Guiana, Britain commissioned explorer Robert Schomburgk in 1840 to delineate its western border, resulting in what is now known as the "Schomburgk Line," which expanded British claims by an additional 80,000 square kilometers.
- Venezuela formally protested against these territorial incursions as early as 1841 and sought support from emerging power USA; this led to U.S. involvement recommending international arbitration for resolution in 1895. London agreed under pressure from Washington.
Arbitration Outcome
- The arbitration culminated in a ruling favorable to Britain known as the Paris Arbitration Award of 1899, establishing the Schomburgk Line as the official border between Venezuela and Britain at that time. Subsequent evidence suggested collusion within this decision-making process involving Russian jurist Friedrich Martens.
- In light of perceived irregularities surrounding this ruling, Venezuela declared it null and raised concerns at the United Nations in 1962—63 years post-decision—though Britain resisted revisiting it due to historical context favoring negotiation during decolonization efforts.
Current Status of Claims
- The Geneva Agreement signed between Venezuela and Britain just before Guyana's independence recognized Venezuela's territorial claim while stipulating that if no agreement could be reached between both nations, UN Secretary-General would propose solutions for resolution—a situation still unresolved today.