Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia have thrown their weight behind the country’s century-old claim over Essequibo, a 160,000-square-kilometre region administered by Guyana.
The region, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana's internationally recognised territory, is rich in oil and minerals.
In a rare moment of alignment with the administration of President Nicolas Maduro, the opposition leaders issued a joint declaration on social media regarding the territorial dispute, an issue whose popularity cuts across the political divide in the crisis-stricken country. However, they slammed past and present governments for mishandling the matter, vowing to take a structured legal and diplomatic approach if elected.
Machado and Gonzalez accused former president Hugo Chávez of abandoning Venezuela’s claim for political reasons, arguing that his foreign policy prioritised regional alliances over national interests.
They pointed to his 2004 visit to Guyana, where he publicly assured local leaders that Venezuela would not oppose development projects in Essequibo, effectively legitimising Guyana’s control.
This stance, they argued, signalled a drastic shift from Venezuela’s longstanding position and emboldened Guyana to grant oil concessions in disputed waters.
According to them, following Chávez’s policy of appeasement, Maduro continued neglecting the dispute, allowing the UN Secretary-General to refer the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Guyana initiated legal proceedings.
The opposition condemned this failure, stating that successive Chavista administrations not only failed to protect Venezuelan sovereignty but actively weakened its position on the global stage.
While the Maduro government refuses to recognise the ICJ’s jurisdiction, it has announced plans to elect a governor for Essequibo in the May 25 regional elections, nominating military officer Neil Villamizar.
The opposition dismissed this move as a political manoeuvre and insisted the dispute requires experienced professionals in legal, diplomatic, and military affairs.
Yet, unlike Maduro, Machado and González Urrutia rejected any military action to resolve the issue, stressing that Venezuela has always sought a peaceful solution.
They called for a responsible foreign policy prioritising national interests over political ideology, arguing that only a democratic transition can restore Venezuela’s credibility and strengthen its claim.
“The Essequibo is ours, and we will defend it with all the means at our disposal, within the framework of international law,” Machado and González Urrutia concluded.
Still, the opposition's stance risks complicating their vital relationship with Washington, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week rejected Caracas' claims over Essequibo, warning that it would be a “very bad day” for Venezuela should the country decide to invade the disputed territory.
“The regional threats are based on illegitimate territorial claims by a narco-trafficking regime,” Rubio told reporters, as quoted by _AP_. “And I want to be frank, there will be consequences for adventurism. There will be consequences for aggressive actions.”
To defend Guyana from the threats posed by Venezuela, the Trump administration is reportedly seeking closer security cooperation, with plans to sign a memorandum of understanding outlining joint security measures.
The border dispute dates back to the 19th century, with the 1899 Paris Arbitration Award initially granting sovereignty over the region to British Guiana, which later became Guyana.
Venezuela rejected the ruling and in 1966 signed the Geneva Agreement with the United Kingdom, creating a commission to resolve the issue—a process that remains stalled.
However, tensions reignited after ExxonMobil’s discovery of substantial crude reserves offshore Essequibo in 2015.