Venezuela Proceeds with Disputed Territory Referendum Despite Guyana's Objections

International Court of Justice to Decide on Guyana's Request to Halt Referendum Amid Long-standing Territorial Dispute

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has confirmed that the country will proceed with a referendum on December 3 concerning the future of the Essequibo region, a mineral-rich territory that is the subject of a territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana.
Guyana has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt parts of the referendum, describing it as an 'existential threat' that could lead to the annexation of the Essequibo by Venezuela.
The dispute dates back to an 1899 arbitration decision that established the border between the two nations. Guyana launched a case at the ICJ in 2018 to uphold this ruling, while Venezuela argues that a 1966 agreement nullified the original decision.
Tensions have escalated since 2015 due to oil exploration operations by ExxonMobil and others in offshore areas intersecting the disputed territory. Venezuela maintains that Guyana does not have the right to grant concessions in these areas.
The referendum was proposed by Venezuela’s National Assembly, approved by the National Electoral Council, and cleared by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. One of the questions asks voters if they agree to the creation of a state in the territory and granting Venezuelan citizenship to current and future area residents.