Venezuela Rejects ICJ Jurisdiction in Dispute with Guyana Background The dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region dates back to the 19th century. Venezuela claims the entire Essequibo region, which is about two-thirds the size of Guyana, while Guyana maintains that the border was settled by an arbitral tribunal in 1899. In 2015, Venezuela asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on the validity of the 1899 arbitral award. Guyana challenged the ICJ's jurisdiction over the case, but in 2018, the ICJ ruled that it did have jurisdiction. Sunday's Referendum On Sunday, December 3, 2023, Venezuela held a consultative referendum on the ICJ's jurisdiction in the dispute with Guyana. The Venezuelan government said that the referendum was necessary to consult the Venezuelan people on the issue. The referendum asked two questions:

• Do you approve of the Venezuelan government's decision to submit the controversy over the Essequibo region to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its decision?
• Do you agree that the ICJ has the jurisdiction to resolve the controversy over the Essequibo region?

Results The Venezuelan government said that more than 10.5 million Venezuelans participated in the referendum, which is more than half of the country's eligible voters. The government said that 95% of the voters approved of the government's decision to submit the controversy to the ICJ, and 96% agreed that the ICJ has the jurisdiction to resolve the controversy. International Reaction The Venezuelan government's announcement of the referendum results was met with skepticism from some international observers. The European Union said that it was "concerned" about the referendum, and the United States said that it was "disappointed" by the referendum's outcome. Next Steps The ICJ is scheduled to hear the case between Venezuela and Guyana in June 2024. It remains to be seen whether the ICJ's ruling will be respected by both parties. Analysis The Venezuelan government's referendum on the ICJ's jurisdiction in the dispute with Guyana is a significant development in the long-running territorial dispute between the two countries. The referendum is a sign that the Venezuelan government is prepared to take the case to the ICJ, and it could also be seen as a way for the government to show domestic support for its position on the issue. However, the referendum's results have been met with skepticism from some international observers, and it remains to be seen whether the ICJ's ruling will be respected by both parties. Key Takeaways

• Venezuela held a consultative referendum on the ICJ's jurisdiction in the dispute with Guyana on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
• The Venezuelan government said that more than 10.5 million Venezuelans participated in the referendum, and that 95% of the voters approved of the government's decision to submit the controversy to the ICJ.
• The ICJ is scheduled to hear the case between Venezuela and Guyana in June 2024.
• The Venezuelan government's referendum is a significant development in the long-running territorial dispute between the two countries.

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