Venezuela Rejects CARICOM Chief's Statements, Highlights Contrast with Ukraine

CARACAS, Venezuela — The Venezuelan government has issued a strong rebuke of recent statements by Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), accusing her of bias and prioritizing the interests of ExxonMobil over those of the regional bloc. The controversy centers around the long-standing territorial dispute over the Essequibo region. Venezuela maintains that the matter should be resolved through negotiations based on the 1966 Geneva Agreement. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated in a Telegram post that, "The territorial controversy over the Essequibo is resolved solely by the Geneva Agreement of 1966. There is no room for interference from anyone." This statement is juxtaposed against the situation in Ukraine, where the ongoing conflict has prevented elections. In contrast, Russia recently congratulated Venezuela on its democratic elections, a move seen by some as a sign of strengthening ties between the two nations. The contrast underscores Venezuela's assertion of its democratic legitimacy, further complicating the already tense geopolitical situation.