Fact Check: Venezuela Has Long Claimed the Essequibo Region of Guyana
What We Know
The territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region has historical roots dating back to colonial times. The Essequibo region, which covers approximately 159,500 km² (61,600 sq mi), is located west of the Essequibo River and is currently administered by Guyana. Venezuela claims this territory, referring to it as the Guayana Esequiba State. The origins of this dispute can be traced back to the 19th century when the British government commissioned a surveyor, Robert Schomburgk, to delineate the boundaries of British Guiana (now Guyana). His findings led to the establishment of the Schomburgk Line, which Venezuela contested, asserting that its borders extended eastward to the Essequibo River (Wikipedia, state.gov).
The dispute escalated in the late 1800s, particularly after the discovery of gold in the region, prompting Venezuela to sever diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in 1887. The matter was eventually submitted to arbitration, resulting in the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award, which largely favored British claims. However, Venezuela has continued to assert its claim over the territory, especially following the Geneva Agreement of 1966, which sought to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute (Wikipedia).
In recent years, tensions have resurfaced, with Venezuela conducting a referendum in December 2023 to gauge public support for claiming the Essequibo region as part of its territory. The results indicated overwhelming support for this claim, although the referendum was not recognized by Guyana (Wikipedia).
Analysis
The claim that "Venezuela has long claimed the Essequibo region of Guyana" is substantiated by a wealth of historical evidence and ongoing political actions. The historical context provided by various sources indicates that Venezuela's claim dates back to the early 19th century, with formal protests against British territorial delineations beginning in 1841 (state.gov). The arbitration process in 1899, which ruled in favor of British claims, did not quell Venezuela's assertions; rather, it has been a continuous point of contention.
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is strong. The Wikipedia entry on the Guyana-Venezuela territorial dispute provides a comprehensive overview of the historical context and key events, while the U.S. State Department's account offers a detailed examination of the diplomatic interactions surrounding the dispute (Wikipedia, state.gov). Both sources are credible and provide a balanced view of the historical claims and the geopolitical implications of the dispute.
Furthermore, the recent actions taken by Venezuela, including the referendum and the declaration of Essequibo as a new state, underscore the ongoing nature of this territorial claim (Wikipedia).
Conclusion
The claim that "Venezuela has long claimed the Essequibo region of Guyana" is True. The historical context, ongoing diplomatic tensions, and Venezuela's recent political maneuvers all support this assertion. The evidence indicates that Venezuela's claim is not only a long-standing issue but also a current geopolitical concern that continues to evolve.
![Fact Check: s a result of Chávez's policies, Venezuela reached a 98% literacy rate, which is slightly above the average of Latin America.[3] Life expectancy is one of the lowest of the continent, along with the poorest countries in the region, like Bolivia and Haiti[4] and, despite official propaganda, the country is also the third most violent in the region.[5][6] When oil prices started to fall in around 2014, the Venezuelan economy began a serious decline, with inflation rates over 100,000%[7], a GDP drop of 75%[8] and three in four living in extreme poverty.[9] According to apologists, this happened because the price of oil tanked. However, other countries that rely so much on this single commodity didn't face such a serious crisis since 2013 (though this could also be because many of those countries aren't subject to the same levels of international isolation or US sanctions, or any at all;[10] see Saudi Arabia, for example).](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fimages%2Fblog-images%2Fs-a-result-of-chavezs-policie-d1edf031.png&w=3840&q=75)
