President in Charge: Venezuela will not recognize ICJ verdict on Essequibo territorial dispute

Published at: 15/06/2026 09:03 PM

This Monday, June 15, the President in charge of the Republic, Delcy Rodríguez, emphasized that Venezuela will not recognize the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the territorial controversy over Guiana Essequiba.

“Regardless, whatever the outcome of this process initiated unilaterally by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Venezuela will not recognize its outcome, because it would make us complicit in the violation of the Geneva Agreement,” he said.

He ratified that the nation has acted firmly, and has always made it clear that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICJ to resolve this territorial dispute, a position that is contemplated in the National Constitution, and the domestic legal system, but also because of the support of the binding popular mandate of the Consultative Referendum of December 03, 2023.

“It had the unanimity of the Venezuelan people (...) 98% of those who participated in that referendum, it was forceful, the voice was loud and clear, it did not recognize the ICJ, because that would be validating the fraudulent Arbitration Award of Paris of 1899,” he added.

This was stated at the Miraflores Palace, where he decorated the legal and diplomatic team that exercises the homeland defense of Guiana Esequiba with the Order of Liberators and Liberators of Venezuela in its three classes.

He argued that Venezuela was forced to go to the ICJ, in The Hague, to defend the historical truth and present the convincing evidence that demonstrates Venezuelan ownership over the territory of Guiana Esequiba.

In this regard, he ratified that the State is vindicating the historic struggle that grants Venezuela exclusive rights over the Essequibo. “There has never been another headline other than Venezuela,” he said.

He also assured that “today the Republic asserts its historical truth and its legitimate rights over this territory.”

The president in charge urged the government of Guyana to resume the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve, by peaceful means, the territorial dispute over Guiana Essequiba.

Mazo News Team