Venezuela files rejoinder in border controversy case

Aug 12, 2025 News

Vice President (VP) of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez

Kaieteur News – The Venezuelan government on Monday filed its rejoinder in the border controversy case currently before the International Court of Justice.

The case was brought by Guyana for a judicial settlement of the 1899 arbitral award that settled boundaries between this country’s western neighbour.

In a statement read by Vice President (VP) of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, the Nicolas Maduro government asserted that “Venezuela has demonstrated, once again, the solid legal and factual grounds for its irrevocable historical position of not submitting to third parties (including the International Court of Justice) matters related to its vital interests, such as its independence and territorial integrity.”

According to Rodriguez, the statement ratifies the mandate of the Venezuelan people, emanating from the referendum of December 3, 2023, not to recognize the International Court of Justice, or any other judicial body, to resolve this territorial dispute.”

The Venezuelan government reaffirmed the position that “We do not recognise, under any circumstances, the fraudulent judicial process initiated by Guyana, nor will we abide by any ruling issued in this matter.”

“For this reason, the delivery of this document does not imply Venezuela’s consent or recognition of the Court’s jurisdiction in the territorial dispute over Guayana Esequiba, nor of any decision may it adopt on this matter.”

In response to the statement, the Government of the of Guyana said that it was notified by the ICJ that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, August 11, 2025, filed its rejoinder in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899, within the time-limit fixed by the Court in its Order of 14 June 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Rejoinder is in response to Guyana’s Reply, filed in December 2024, and constitutes the final written pleading in the case.

“In accordance with its standard procedures, the Court, upon returning from its summer recess, will schedule oral hearings on the merits of the case, to be followed by its deliberations and the issuance of its final Judgment, which will be binding on the parties under international law,” the statement outlined

As such, Guyana Government said that it welcomes the filing of the Rejoinder by Venezuela, which ensures that the Court will have before it all the factual and legal arguments of both parties when it issues its final judgment, rendering it fully authoritative and incontestable.

“Guyana remains steadfastly committed to the peaceful resolution of this controversy in accordance with international law by the ICJ – the world’s highest and most respected judicial authority,” the statement added.

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1899 Arbitral Award, border controversy, Delcy Rodriguez, rejoinder, Venezuela

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