Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), took to social media platform X on October 25 to express his unequivocal support for a statement released by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) concerning Venezuela’s planned Essequibo referendum.
“We condemn any act that constitutes a breach of peace and an attempt to encroach on a country’s sovereign borders. This is an irrefutable violation of Guyana’s territorial rights and we support @CARICOMorg’s statement,” Almagro wrote.
Grave concerns have been expressed by CARICOM regarding Venezuela’s intention to carry out a national referendum that involves questions about annexing two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. CARICOM clarified that such a move would represent an irrefutable violation of international law, which strictly prohibits unilateral territorial annexation by one State of another.
According to CARICOM, the referendum questions seek affirmation for Venezuela’s territorial claim “by all means, according to/with the Law.” The community warned that the wording leaves room for the interpretation that “by all means” could include the use of force or war, thereby raising concerns over the potential breach of the long-standing commitment to keep the region a zone of peace.
CARICOM stated that the proposed referendum has “no validity, bearing, or standing in international law” and insisted that any affirmative vote could undermine regional peace and security. The community reaffirmed its support for the judicial process and hopes that Venezuela will engage fully in the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice to ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable, and in accordance with international law.
