Guyana needs to invoke UN Security Council on Venezuela’s provocation- former Ambassador to US

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 March 2025, 17:38 by Writer

Former Guyana Ambassador to the United States (US), Dr Riyad Insanally has recommended that Guyana again take Venezuela’s increasing aggression to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to pressure the Nicolás Maduro administration into accepting the International Court Justice (ICJ) as the only means of resolving the border dispute over the Essequibo Region.

Contributing to a panel discussion titled “Perspectives on the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy” and organised by the Centre for International and Border Studies (CIBS), he said Guyana needed to escalate its diplomatic offensive in light of Venezuela’s continued provocation and defiance of international law.

“The UNSC would then be in a position to insist that Venezuela abides by the process selected by the UN Secretary General and the rulings of the ICJ. At the very least, it would show its desire for this issue to be settled by the body relevant to doing so, that is the ICJ,” he said. The diplomat said Guyana needed to have a more robust diplomacy in light of the heightened threat to international peace and security.

Guyana had taken its concerns to the UNSC in April 2024.

His recommendation came against the backdrop of Venezuela’s efforts to annex Guyana’s Essequibo Region by incorporating that area into Venezuela’s official map as one of its states, organising elections for a Governor of Essequibo and recently entering Guyana’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and informing oil production and drill-ships that they were there illegally in Venezuelan waters.

Dr Insanally also recommended that Guyana broadens its diplomatic engagement not only with neighbouring Brazil but also the growing number of Latin American countries that are interested in closer relations with Guyana.

He said Guyana should also enlist support from China, Cuba and Russia “who are particular friends of Venezuela”, while cautioning that Russia might be tempted to “sow mischief” in the US’ backyard.

Guyana last week appeared to have ruffled diplomatic relations with China after pledging “different and preferential” treatment to the US in apparent exchange for support in development, security and defence. The US last week warned Venezuela of a “very bad day” if the Maduro administration decides to invade Guyana or attack ExxonMobil’s vessels in the Stabroek Block.

Guyana is a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

Ambassador Insanally praised the Guyana government for securing US support in pushing back against Venezuela. “I consider the unequivocal support of the United States a triumph of our diplomacy and a personal triumph for President Ali who has been at the forefront of our diplomatic efforts,” he said.

Dr Insanally said Guyana, with its huge oil and gas reserves, is of great geo-economic importance to the US for cheap and reliable energy and the consortium is 75 percent owned by American corporations. He said the socio-economic and political turmoil that the Maduro-led administration has inflicted on Venezuela has spilled over into Guyana and the rest of the region.

“These are the interests that Guyana’s diplomacy has been leveraging and must continue to leverage vis-à-vis the United States. There can be no room for complacency,” he said.

At the same time, he said Guyana must continue to diversify its foreign relations because the US’ position on a number of issues including relations with China are not all in agreement with those of this former British colony.