Topic: 2024-The Situation in Guyana
Country: India
Delegate Name: KenZie Low
Special Political Committee
The Situation in Guyana
Republic of India
KenZie Low
City High Middle
The Republic of India has kept a close eye on the Venezuela-Guyana border dispute. Cordial relations and crude oil sourcing from both nations have concerned India with the tensions between these two Latin American countries, as potential war talks could devastate not just the Indian economy, but the international economy. The situation in Guyana began in the 16th century: first with the Schmoburgk line drawn by British explorer Robert Schomburgk, the arbitral tribune award in 1899, and Venezuela declaring the 1899 arbitral award tribune null and void in 1962. This has resulted in a long-standing border issue between the two nations. Now, tensions between Venezuela and Guyana escalated once again when the US company Exxon Mobil discovered vast amounts of oil in the Essequibo region in 2015. The Essequibo region is currently under Guyana’s borders, however, the president of Venezuela, Maduro, has set a referendum to annex the Essequibo region in 2024. As Venezuela is facing economic and social instability, the profits that could be gained from the Essequibo region could tremendously support Venezuela, and combat the sanctions and declining profits the nation has been facing. However, the international community is in the midst of two wars, and a third one would be significantly harmful to the global community. War in these countries would also harm the global economy, as many countries rely on Venezuela and Guyana for crude oil exports; India is one of these nations. Since the Republic of India does not wish to see the detrimental effects of a Venezuela-Guyana war, the nation supports a solution of diplomacy.
India has taken a stronger interest in the Venezuelan-Guyana border dispute in the 21st century. Since US arbitration was mostly involved in the Venezuela-Guyana affairs before the 21st century, India recently rose to global prominence and now plays a larger role in international affairs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Guyana on November 20, 2024, the first visit from India to Guyana since Indira Ghandi in 1968. Modi offered aid to Guyana in terms of health, the economy, and agriculture, and continues to strengthen cordial ties with Guyana. According to Modi, both India and Guyana have seen similar border issues. Specifically, India continues its longstanding border dispute with China, facing a similar position to Guyana. Additionally, British colonization caused many indentured East Indian laborers to enter Guyana in the 19th century; currently, about 40% of the Guyana population is East Indian. India-Guyana trade is also flourishing. From 2022-2023, Indian-Guyanese trade amounted to 32.86 million USD.
In an address before the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana, Prime Minister Modi stated, “‘For the world, this is not a time for conflict… In the last 250 years, India and Guyana have seen similar struggles, similar slavery’” (Divya A). Modi was the first Indian prime minister to address the Parliament in Guyana. Modi also advocated for the Guyanese voice, and the Indian mantra of ‘humanity first’ in the recent G20 Summit in Brazil. Indian spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, for the Ministry of External Affairs, also stated during his weekly briefing his advocacy for a diplomatic approach.
Given that humanity and empathy for the suffering remain the guiding principles for India’s foreign policy, the Republic of India proposes diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the Venezuelan-Guyana border dispute. Modi notes that India “‘never moved forward with selfishness, expansionist attitude’, and has always been away from harboring any feeling of seizing resources” (Divya A). India advocates for the international community to closely monitor the situation and prevent any military escalations from occurring. India supports any form of diplomatic initiatives and appreciates the efforts from Venezuela and Guyana, like the diplomatic talk hosted in Brazil in January 2024, with the Brazilian, Venezuelan, and Guyanese foreign ministers. Ultimately, the Republic of India urges that Venezuela and Guyana resolve their border dispute with diplomacy and humanity, and respect each nation’s autonomy and economy.
Works Cited
Bharat, ETV. “Why India Will Be Concerned about Guyana-Venezuela Territorial Conflict.” ETV Bharat News, ETV Bharat National, 12 Dec. 2023, www.etvbharat.com/english/international/top-news/why-india-will-be-concerned-about-guyana-venezuela-territorial-conflict/na20231212200647459459166. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Divya A. ““Space and Sea Must Unite, Not Divide Us”: PM Modi in Guyana Parliament.” The Indian Express, 21 Nov. 2024, indianexpress.com/article/india/space-sea-should-be-subjects-of-cooperation-not-conflict-pm-modi-9682549/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
International Crisis Group. “Thin Ice in the Himalayas: Handling the India-China Border Dispute.” International Crisis Group, 14 Nov. 2023, www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/india-china/334-thin-ice-himalayas-handling-india-china-border-dispute. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
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WILKINSON, BERT. “India’s Prime Minister Meets with Caribbean Leaders in Guyana.” AP News, The Associated Press, 20 Nov. 2024, apnews.com/article/guyana-india-summit-modi-caribbean-c29177f4a19449cc3ccc2fc5adc40750. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
