Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo expressed optimism about Guyana’s relationship with the incoming Donald Trump administration. In fact, authorities expect strong support on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy case currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Venezuela is claiming more than half of Guyana’s the resource-rich Essequibo region. In March 2018, Guyana submitted an application to the ICJ, seeking a final and binding judgment on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award (which settled the border between then British Guiana and Venezuela).
At a press conference today, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo highlighted the positive working relationship Guyana has had with the outgoing Joe Biden administration and anticipated that this cooperation would strengthen under Trump’s leadership.
“We had a good working relationship with the Biden-administration and we are looking forward to an even better working relationship with the Trump administration,” he said.
Moreover, Jagdeo praised Senator Marco Rubio, who has been nominated as the next U.S. Secretary of State, for his previous support for Guyana’s interests. He recalled Rubio’s intervention when the Biden administration vetoed a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI). The Vice President disclosed that Rubio had written to the Biden administration, arguing against the veto.
To this end, he added, “We are very pleased also that Senator Rubio will also be the Secretary of State because he is very much aware of the issue with Venezuela and that’s a crucial issue for us.”
He underscored that Rubio’s understanding of the border controversy positions him as an important ally for Guyana, and by extension he said the Trump administration would show “strong solidarity” with Guyana as it navigates the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela at the ICJ.
