President Irfaan Ali met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York during the
80th United Nations General Assembly, where the two leaders discussed the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, along with broader developments in the South Caribbean region. They also exchanged views on global issues such as artificial intelligence, gender equality, and Guyana’s leadership in forest and biodiversity conservation.
In a statement following the meeting, President Ali said he updated Secretary-General Guterres on Guyana’s case currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is scheduled for hearings in the coming months. Guterres commended Guyana for its “robust and principled contributions” during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which ends this December.
The Guyana–Venezuela border controversy centres on Caracas’s claim to the oil-rich Essequibo region, which covers nearly two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Although the 1899 Arbitral Award settled the boundary in Guyana’s favour, Venezuela continues to reject its validity. In 2018, under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration, Guyana formally referred the matter to the ICJ following a recommendation by the UN Secretary-General. The Court has since affirmed its jurisdiction and is currently hearing arguments, with a final ruling expected to provide a definitive legal resolution.
