CARICOM Warns Against Use of Regional Platforms to Advance Venezuela’s Essequibo Claim

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has issued a pointed warning to its member states against allowing regional engagements to be used, directly or indirectly, to advance or legitimise Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region, reaffirming its “firm and unchanged” support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement issued Tuesday, CARICOM said it had taken note of recent official engagements within the regional bloc during which material asserting Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo was publicly displayed, and acknowledged a formal letter from President Mohamed Irfaan Ali expressing Guyana’s “grave concern” over the matter.

While not naming the specific engagements, the statement follows controversy over Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez’s recent appearances in CARICOM member states while displaying symbols depicting Guyana’s Essequibo region as Venezuelan territory—an issue now before the International Court of Justice.

CARICOM reiterated that each member state retains “the sovereign right to conduct bilateral relations with external partners,” stressing that this principle remains well established and respected within the Community.

But it made clear that such sovereign engagements must remain consistent with the bloc’s collective obligations under the Caribbean Community’s governing framework.

“At the centre of those commitments stands the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the binding legal instrument that defines the Community, its objectives, and the conduct expected of its Member States. The Treaty commits Members to the preservation of the Community’s integrity and cohesion in their external relations,” the regional body stated.

The regional bloc further reminded member states that in exercising their sovereign rights, they must remain mindful of their collective responsibilities under the Treaty, including respect for international law, judicial processes, and good neighbourly relations.

In one of the strongest parts of its statement, CARICOM underscored that “Community platforms and engagements should not be used, whether directly or indirectly, to advance or appear to legitimise claims that are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings before the International Court of Justice.”

That declaration is seen as a direct response to Georgetown’s concerns that regional engagements with Venezuelan officials could create the perception of acquiescence or tolerance for Caracas’ territorial claims.

CARICOM reaffirmed its longstanding support for Guyana’s position, stating that “the Community’s longstanding and unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, and for the peaceful resolution of the controversy through the Court remains firm and unchanged.”

The territorial controversy between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region—comprising roughly two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass—is currently before the International Court of Justice, where Guyana is seeking a final ruling affirming the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that established the boundary between the two countries. Oral hearings on the merits are expected to begin next week.

CARICOM said it remains committed to “unity, to the rule of law, and to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law,” signalling continued regional backing for Guyana as tensions with Venezuela remain elevated.