Guyana President urges Venezuela to abide by ICJ border ruling

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly, stating that Guyana sought recourse through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) only after decades of failed bilateral efforts to resolve its border dispute with Venezuela. Ali emphasized that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains the “full, perfect, and final settlement” of the border, despite what he described as “long and repeated provocations and aggression” from Venezuela.

Following the completion of ICJ hearings in May 2026, Ali urged Venezuela to abide by the court’s forthcoming ruling in accordance with the UN Charter, pledging that Guyana will do the same. His remarks followed a speech by Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, who had used the same UN podium to call for a return to negotiations under the Geneva Agreement.