St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Meets Maduro Amid Guyana-Venezuela Tensions

St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves visits Venezuela to meet with President Nicolas Maduro amid escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over border disputes. Following a Venezuelan naval incursion, diplomatic calls for calm have intensified, highlighting concerns over potential regional instability. Despite prior agreements and court rulings, ongoing Venezuelan actions undermine efforts for a peaceful resolution.

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has traveled to Venezuela to discuss ongoing tensions related to the border controversy with Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. This meeting is set to take place around midday today, following Dr. Gonsalves’ arrival last evening.

Prime Minister Gonsalves previously spoke with Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, advocating for calm and urging the need for both sides to engage in diplomatic solutions. He warned that escalating tensions could lead to significant economic and social fallout for both nations and destabilize the broader Latin America and Caribbean region, potentially resulting in a humanitarian crisis.

Tensions between Guyana and Venezuela have intensified notably following a recent incursion by a Venezuelan naval vessel in Guyana’s waters, which questioned oil ship captains regarding their operations in the area while falsely asserting jurisdiction. In response, Guyana bolstered its maritime and aerial surveillance and alerted the international community about the incident.

President Ali characterized the naval incursion as a serious provocation by the Maduro administration, prompting swift condemnation from various international entities, including the United States, the United Kingdom, CARICOM, The Commonwealth, and the OAS.

In a subsequent statement, Prime Minister Gonsalves clarified his support for Guyana’s claims regarding the oil ships operating within national waters, although he expressed concerns that tensions may persist even after the International Court of Justice issues a ruling on the border dispute initiated by Guyana. This case aims to affirm the legitimacy of the 1899 border settlement.

Previously, in December 2023, at the Argyle International Airport, Presidents Ali and Maduro met and issued the Argyle Declaration, pledging to refrain from threats or force against one another amid ongoing disagreements. The International Court of Justice has also mandated provisional measures to prevent Venezuela from altering the current circumstances in the contested Essequibo region, prescribed by a unanimous decision in The Hague.

However, Guyana has asserted that Venezuela has violated both the Court order and the Argyle Declaration by advancing claims over Essequibo, proceeding with local elections, and unlawfully entering Guyanese waters with military vessels. As a result of these actions, President Ali has declared a refusal to meet with President Maduro.

The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is in Venezuela to address rising tensions between Guyana and Venezuela related to border disputes exacerbated by recent naval incursions. Diplomatic efforts underline the significance of calm resolutions to avoid broader ramifications throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite previous agreements and international legal interventions, tensions persist as Venezuela reportedly disregards both court rulings and bilateral commitments, complicating the prospect of reconciliation.

Original Source: newssourcegy.com