GEORGETOWN, Guyana – As the South American nation marked its 60th year of independence from British rule, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a clear message of solidarity to Guyana, reinforcing Paris’ commitment to the country’s territorial integrity amid the long-running border controversy with Venezuela over the resource-rich Essequibo region.
In a formal congratulatory letter addressed to Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, Macron extended warm wishes to the Government and people of Guyana, while highlighting the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries that share core interests in addressing common regional challenges across the Guyana Shield.
“France is particularly attached to its partnership with Guyana in light of the many regional challenges we share on the Guyana Shield, where we work together in support of peace, cooperation and respect for human rights,” Macron wrote in the correspondence.
Turning directly to the high-stakes territorial dispute currently awaiting a final ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Macron made clear that France stands firmly behind the principles of international law, and remains fully committed to upholding Guyana’s sovereignty and established territorial borders.
The decades-long dispute centers on the Essequibo, a vast 159,500-square-kilometer territory that makes up nearly two-thirds of Guyana’s total land area. The region holds massive untapped reserves of minerals and crude oil, making it a strategically and economically critical asset for Guyana. For decades, Venezuela has laid claim to the entire territory, rejecting the 1899 Arbitral Award that first formalized the border between the two neighboring nations. Though Venezuela accepted the ruling for generations, it formally declared the award invalid in 1962 and has repeatedly reasserted its territorial claim in the years since.
The process toward a peaceful resolution is being guided by the terms of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which outlines diplomatic mechanisms to settle the conflict. After years of unproductive bilateral talks failed to bridge the divide between the two countries, the United Nations Secretary-General formally referred the dispute to the ICJ for a binding ruling in 2018, when Guyana petitioned the court to confirm the ongoing legal validity of the 1899 border award.
The ICJ has already confirmed that it holds jurisdiction over the case. Earlier this month, both parties concluded their formal submissions, including filing written memorials and completing oral hearings before the court, leaving the ICJ poised to issue its final ruling in the coming months.
Beyond the border dispute, Macron also noted that bilateral relations between France and Guyana received a significant boost last September, when France opened a permanent embassy in Georgetown, Guyana’s capital. Looking ahead to deeper collaboration, Macron expressed optimism that ongoing negotiations for new bilateral agreements across key sectors including justice, internal security, and national defense would be finalized in the near future, opening a new chapter of cooperation between the two nations.