Venezuelan electoral authorities announced that a non-binding referendum resulted in 95 percent of voters approving of the nation’s territorial claim on a large portion of neighboring oil-rich Guyana.
President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the results, calling it “an overwhelming victory for the ‘Yes’ throughout Venezuela.”
The president of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso, stated that approximately 10.5 million votes were cast by eligible voters in Venezuela.
The referendum has sparked concerns in Guyana and the surrounding region regarding Venezuela’s long-term intentions concerning the contested territory.
Maduro, who is seeking re-election amidst a severe economic crisis, hopes that the outcome of the referendum will bolster Venezuela’s century-old claim to the oil-rich Essequibo territory governed by Guyana.
“Today is a day of ratification, of national sovereignty, and the people have done it with flying colors,” said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino in an evening address on state television.
Meanwhile, in Guyana, thousands of people formed human chains in solidarity with their government, wearing T-shirts reading “Essequibo belongs to Guyana,” and their president assured that the country’s borders were secure.
Despite the referendum not being binding and the people of Essequibo not participating in the vote, tensions have been on the rise, especially after Guyana took bids in September for offshore oil exploration blocks, yielding a major oil find in October, comparable to Kuwait’s petroleum reserves.
Venezuela’s government has released a video suggesting that some Guyanese would prefer to be under Venezuelan rule. The video depicts an Indigenous group in Guyana lowering the nation’s flag and raising a Venezuelan flag while singing the Venezuelan national anthem.
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana reassured the citizens, stating, “I want to assure Guyanese that there is nothing to fear,” amid Venezuela’s long-standing claim over the Essequibo territory, which represents more than two-thirds of Guyana.
Both countries hold contrasting views on the historical borders, with Venezuela arguing that the Essequibo River is the natural border between the nations. However, Guyana asserts that the border was set in the British colonial era and was confirmed in 1899 by a court of arbitration, validated by the International Court of Justice.
The non-binding referendum also included proposals for the creation of a Venezuelan province called “Guyana Essequibo” and a rejection of the ICJ’s jurisdiction.
