Leaders of Guyana and Venezuela Seek Resolution Amidst Territorial Dispute

The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela are set to meet in an attempt to defuse a long-standing territorial dispute over the Essequibo region. The dispute escalated after Venezuelans voted in a referendum to claim two-thirds of Guyana's territory. Regional partners have pushed for the meeting, which will be attended by the prime ministers of Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The tensions have led to both countries putting their militaries on alert. Guyana's president insists that the dispute should be resolved solely 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.