Venezuela and Guyana Leaders Meet in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Amid Essequibo Tensions

As the rest of South America anxiously looks on, President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela finally met with President Irfaan Ali of Guyana on Thursday as the Essequibo dispute simmers. As is customary in territorial disputes, they met in a neutral country, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean.

Fears that a war between the two countries would break out after Venezuela launched a referendum to claim the Essequibo region, which has belonged to Guyana for over 100 years. This prompted several international and regional organizations to try and get the two countries at the negotiating table and resolve their conflict before war even begins.

Several representatives from various regional and international organizations were also present during the meeting between the two South American neighbors. These include CARICOM, the Caribbean Political and Economic Union, the United Nations (UN), and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Brazil, which shares borders with Guyana and may face a refugee influx should conflict arise, also has its own representative there.

The dispute has been heard before the International Court of Justice, which told Venezuela not to take any actions in Essequibo. However, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has been obsessed with the Essequibo region as of late and has rejected the court's jurisdiction and backed the creation of a new state in a referendum, according to Reuters.

"I made it very clear that Guyana has all the right to... approve of and facilitate any development, any investment, any partnership, any trading, any collaboration, any cooperation, to issue any license and the granting of any concession within our territorial space and within our sovereign space," said Guyana President Ifraan Ali after the meeting.

"Guyana is not the aggressor, Guyana is not seeking war, but Guyana reserves the right to work with all our partners to ensure the defense of our country," he continued. "Both parties committed to ensuring the region remains a zone of peace."

South American Neighbors on Edge Over Possible Venezuela Vs. Guyana Conflict

While Ali says he has committed to peace, his Venezuelan counterpart has not yet made any public statements nor any public commitments to peace in the region, though negotiations between the two sides are still ongoing in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to France 24, the rest of South America is already on edge due to the possible conflict between the two. Their neighbors on the continent, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, have issued a joint declaration calling for "both parties to negotiate to seek a peaceful solution."

ExxonMobil Says It Will Stay in Guyana Despite Threat of Conflict Vs. Venezuela

The primary reason for the conflict between Guyana and Venezuela is the rich mineral resources in Essequibo, as well as oil. US oil giant ExxonMobil is currently operating there and it says it would not leave as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

"We are not going anywhere - our focus remains on developing the resources efficiently and responsibly, per our agreement with the Guyanese government," said the company in a statement on social media. It also reaffirmed its "long-term commitment to Guyana" as tensions escalate, according to the Associated Press.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Venezuela and Guyana leaders meet over oil-rich Essequibo territory dispute | DW News