Guyana will not strike a deal with US to settle border controversy with Venezuela

Last Updated on Sunday, 11 January 2026, 11:46 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday ruled out Guyana giving into any potential demand by the United States (US) to amicably settle the border controversy with Venezuela.

“My priority is the safety and security of the Guyanese people and on the integrity of our borders, our territorial integrity and our sovereignty and nothing in that relation will ever be compromised,” he told reporters when asked to comment about the US’ apparent expansionism in the Caribbean that could see Washington asking that the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy be amicably settled with Venezuela being given some space.

The US has not made any such call, but international relations watchers believe that the Trump administration may want to negotiate a deal between Guyana and Venezuela to allow for unimpeded access to potentially oil-rich areas onshore and offshore Essequibo.

The Democratic and Republican-led administrations in the US have unequivocally recognised Guyana’s existing borders.

Though Guyana is confident that it will win its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, experts continue to speculate that Venezuela will continue to press its claim to the 160,000 square kilometre Essequibo Region and the oil-rich Atlantic Sea that abuts that area.

He made the comment after delivering the keynote address at the opening of the AC Marriott Hotel, Ogle, East Coast Demerara near the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

Since capturing Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and taking them to New York to face drugs, terrorism and weapons charges, US President Donald Trump has said that his administration would “run” Venezuela for an unspecified period and use that country’s crude oil revenues for the benefit of the South American nation.

Coming after the US’ recent action in Venezuela, President Ali said “in our region today, there are changes that will change the democratic landscape of our region; changes that will change the security landscape and changes are important in maintaining the stability of our region in crushing international and transnational criminal networks.”

He cautioned against Guyana believing that it was immune from “networks and cells all over the world” that were being driven by actions in other regions.

Dr Ali said the successes of businesses in the Caribbean were hinged on the level of security.

In apparent reference to the 25.5 reduction in serious crimes during 2025, he said those were the “lowest” in the last 10 years and were due to the use of technology in crime fighting.

“We are partnering with technology. We are partnering with innovation. We are partnering with the people. We are partnering with communities because we know that your investment depends heavily on a stable and secure environment,” the President said.