Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez said before the International Court of Justice that it is "inevitable and indispensable" for her country to negotiate the disputed Essequibo region with Guyana through political, peaceful and diplomatic means, Deutsche Welle reported on May 11.

The territorial dispute over the Essequibo region dates back to the 19th century and resurfaced after large oil discoveries in the past decade, which have boosted the Guyanese economy. In 2023, 95% of the Venezuelan population supported the annexation of the Essequibo region in a referendum. In 2025, Venezuela elected a governor for the "Guyana Esequiba" region for the first time. The Venezuelan government argues that the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award that established the current border was fraudulent. In 2020 and in 2023, the ICJ rejected Venezuela's objections and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.