Leaders of Guyana and Venezuela to Hold Face-to-Face Meeting in Effort to Resolve Territorial Dispute

The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela are set to meet in an attempt to defuse a territorial dispute over the Essequibo region, which is rich in oil and minerals. Regional partners have pushed for the meeting, which will take place on the island of St. Vincent. The dispute escalated after Venezuelans voted in a referendum to claim two-thirds of Guyana's territory. Both sides have put their militaries on alert, and tensions remain high. Guyana's president insists that the dispute should be resolved by the International Court of Justice, while Venezuela argues that the 1966 Geneva Agreement nullified the border drawn in 1899. The outcome of the meeting and the resolution of the dispute remain uncertain.