In a referendum marked by low participation, the majority of Venezuelan voters on Sunday opted to annex Essequibo to Venezuela, an area of ​​almost 160,000 square kilometers that is in conflict with Guyana.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro said on social networks on Monday that the nation has begun a “new historical phase to fight” for Essequibo and “succeeded in regaining the territory” that “the liberators left behind”, although he did not has detailed the actions that will be taken to achieve this.

According to Electoral Council President Elvis Amoroso, the Venezuelan people have expressed their “absolute will” in defending this disputed territory, rich in natural resources.

“We ask Venezuela and Guyana to continue seeking a peaceful resolution to their dispute. “This is not something that can be solved by a referendum,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference.

Miller explained that Joe Biden’s administration is in favor of respecting the border established in 1899 between the two South American countries “as long as there is no agreement between the two parties or a competent authority decides to do so.”

Meanwhile, Guyana is “vigilant,” said Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Todd.

“We must always remain vigilant (…). While we don’t believe he will order an invasion, we have to be realistic about the environment in Venezuela and the fact that President (Nicolás) Maduro could do something that could be very unpredictable,” Todd said of the meeting.

They are waiting for the ICJ’s decision

More than 95% of voters supported creating a Venezuelan province in Essequibo, which governs Guyana, and giving nationality to its 125,000 residents.

Todd emphasized that Guyana will maintain defense cooperation with the United States and other partners and will continue diplomatic efforts bilaterally and in organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS) to insist that the age-old dispute between the two countries must be resolved dissolved. at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“We have already made it clear that we will abide by the court’s ruling,” Todd said.

Venezuela maintains that the Essequibo River is the natural border with Guyana, as in 1777 when it was a colony of Spain, and invokes the Geneva Agreement, signed in 1966 before Guyana’s independence from the United Kingdom, which laid the foundation for a negotiated solution and overturned an 1899 award that defined the current borders.

Georgetown is defending that ruling and asking that it be ratified by the ICJ, whose jurisdiction Caracas rejects.

Todd described referendum participation as “low,” although Venezuelan authorities reported Monday that more than 10.4 million voters went to the polls, more than half of the voter list.

“You have someone, based on the actions of his government, who is not committed to free, fair and transparent elections,” the chancellor said in reference to questions about Maduro’s 2018 re-election, which his opponents labeled a fraud . “You can never know what actions your government will take,” he emphasized. (JO)