Venezuela Challenges World Court's Authority Over Esequibo Dispute

At the United Nations World Court on Wednesday, Venezuela firmly rejected the court's jurisdiction in a longstanding territorial dispute with Guyana. The contested region, around the Esequibo river, is a vast territory rich in oil and gas resources.

This conflict, which originated with a 19th-century arbitration, has been officially brought before the International Court of Justice by Guyana, seeking to validate the border set by the 1899 decision in favor of British Guiana. Venezuela, however, argues that the decision was imposed under colonial pressure and emphasizes the need for bilateral negotiations.

The backdrop of a recent referendum in Venezuela, where ICJ's jurisdiction was rejected by its voters, highlights the complexity of this issue. Despite the ICJ's binding authority, its rulings depend on UN Security Council enforcement, leaving uncertainty as a decision approaches.

(With inputs from agencies.)