GUYANA | Venezuelan Naval Incursion into Guyana's Waters Sparks International Outrage

 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, March 2, 2025 - In a brazen escalation of territorial hostilities, Venezuelan naval forces violated Guyana's sovereign waters on March 1, 2025, provoking swift condemnation from the Guyanese government, opposition parties, and international bodies including CARICOM and the Commonwealth.

The incursion began at approximately 07:00 hours when a Venezuelan Coast Guard patrol ship approached Guyana's offshore assets, including the FPSO Prosperity, transmitting false claims that the vessel was operating in "disputed international waters" before proceeding toward other FPSOs in the area.

Guyanese President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali delivered a stern rebuke, flanked by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips and Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan.

"We are addressing the situation with the seriousness and responsibility it requires," President Ali declared, outlining immediate countermeasures including summoning the Venezuelan ambassador and lodging formal protests through diplomatic channels.

The timing of this maritime confrontation follows just weeks after Guyanese soldiers were reportedly ambushed along the western border by armed Venezuelan forces, marking a troubling pattern of escalation from Caracas.

Guyana has rapidly engaged international allies, with President Ali confirming positive responses from the United Kingdom, France, United States, Brazil, and CARICOM. Simultaneously, Guyana's Coast Guard and Air Force assets have been deployed to its exclusive economic zone to ensure national security, following an emergency meeting of the Defense Board.

The incident will be formally reported to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations, Commonwealth, and the Organisation of American States (OAS), reflecting Guyana's commitment to pursuing resolution through established international legal frameworks.

International Community Stands with Guyana

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) promptly released a statement condemning Venezuela's actions, describing them as "acts of aggression and provocation contrary to international law and the 2023 Argyle Declaration."

CARICOM emphasized that the incident undermines the commitment to maintain the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, calling for "the urgent removal of the vessel from Guyana's waters" and urging "patience, calm and non-provocation on both sides."

This latest condemnation follows CARICOM's unambiguous position articulated during its 48th Regular Meeting in Barbados in February 2025, where Heads of Government expressed "grave concern" over Venezuela's declared intention to conduct elections in Guyana's Essequibo region on April 27, 2025, for a "Governor" and "Legislative Council" of the so-called "Guayana Esequiba State."

The regional body explicitly denounced the February 17, 2025 attack by armed Venezuelan men on members of the Guyana Defence Force carrying out lawful operations along the border—a precursor to the current maritime incursion.

CARICOM leaders had underscored that any such elections in Guyana's territory "would be contrary to general principles of international law, the United Nations Charter, the December 1, 2023 Order of the International Court of Justice and the agreements reached in the Joint Declaration of Argyle."

They had also welcomed Venezuela's submission of its counter-memorial on the merits of the case regarding the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, while encouraging Venezuela to submit its Rejoinder by August 8, 2025, in compliance with the Court's scheduling order.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC reinforced this position, condemning the incursion "in the strongest possible terms" while praising Guyana's measured response as exhibiting "restraint and responsibility."

Scotland referenced the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa (October 2024), which unanimously reaffirmed "unswerving support for the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana."

The Secretary-General specifically highlighted the ICJ's December 2023 provisional measures order that Venezuela "refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute."

Unified Political Response Within Guyana

In a rare show of national unity, Guyana's political opposition has aligned firmly with the government's position. The Alliance For Change condemned "in strongest possible terms, the barefaced show of force" demonstrated by Venezuela, characterizing it as "lawless and reckless behavior" that "must be called out for what it is."

Similarly, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) issued a statement decrying the naval incursion as "a clear violation of international law" while calling on all Guyanese to "come together in national unity and denounce this aggression."

President Ali emphasized the non-partisan nature of the crisis, stating, "I want to reiterate that this is a national matter. The opposition will be fully engaged, fully briefed, and all of Guyana would have the relevant information that is necessary."

Venezuela's Pattern of Aggression

Dr. Gary Best, retired Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and an Attorney-at-Law, has provided deeper context to the escalating tensions, describing Venezuela's actions as a calculated shift from "soft power to hard power" tactics.

Best argues that Venezuela's behavior forms part of a 59-year pattern of territorial aggression dating back to its illegal occupation of Guyana's portion of Ankoko Island on the eve of Guyana's independence, despite the 1899 Arbitration Award that definitively established the boundary between the two nations.

"This is an attack on the nation-state of Guyana," Best asserted, rejecting the notion that recent border incidents involved merely "criminal gangs" rather than state-sanctioned aggression.

He points to Venezuela's failed diplomatic efforts, including attempts to bilaterally negotiate new border agreements outside established international law, as precursors to the current military posturing.

The retired Rear Admiral outlined Venezuela's concerning pattern of escalation, beginning with the Argyle Declaration, followed by a controversial referendum on the sovereignty of Guyana's Essequibo region, the appointment of a governor and military commander for the disputed territory, and a massive military buildup along the border.

Calls for Continued Vigilance

Best has advocated for a bi-partisan inquiry into recent border incidents while raising critical questions about Venezuelan military involvement in attacks on Guyanese forces.

He emphasized that any change to Guyana's borders must be determined through a national referendum, calling for greater collaboration between the government, opposition, and civil society as mandated by the Guyanese constitution.

Despite the GDF's relatively small size, Best stressed the importance of ensuring it remains well-equipped to identify aggression and delay enemies while securing international support. "A nation that commits all its resources—human and material—against an enemy positions itself to win," he concluded.

As this territorial standoff unfolds, Guyana continues to pursue what President Ali describes as a "firm commitment to peace and the rule of law," seeking diplomatic solutions while steadfastly protecting its territorial integrity against increasingly aggressive Venezuelan encroachment.

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