Venezuela's Strategic Maneuvering: Exploiting the Geneva Agreement's Inclusion in the Argyle Declaration

In the unfolding controversy, a potentially pivotal move by Venezuela hinges on the Geneva Agreement, embedded in the Joint Declaration of Argyle. President Maduro's recent Twitter announcement, asserting Guyana's commitment to honor the Geneva Agreement, sheds light on a strategic narrative shift.

Guyana's President Irfaan Ali speaks during a press conference after meeting behind closed doors with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Argyle, St. Vincent, Thursday, December 14, 2023.(AP Photo/Lucanus D. Ollivierre)

However, a nuanced analysis reveals that the claim that the Geneva Agreement is the sole mechanism, as stated by the Venezuela Vice President during the ICJ ruling, lacks substance.

Unpacking this assertion, it becomes apparent that the Agreement, crafted in 1966, specifically addresses the controversy stemming from a posthumous letter attributed to Mallet-Prevost. This letter, alleged to have colluded in corrupting the 1899 award, has been a longstanding point of contention.

Venezuela's insistence on bilateral discussions, rather than international adjudication, may stem from a potential deficiency in providing evidence of collusion, creating a diplomatic checkmate for the parties involved.

This handout picture released by the Venezuelan Presidency shows Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (left) greeting Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves after arriving at the Argyle International Airport in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines on December 14, 2023. (Photo by Zurimar Campos / Venezuelan Presidency / AFP)

As the controversy evolves, it becomes evident that the misrepresentation and misuse of the Geneva Agreement have played a crucial role in shaping Venezuela's approach to the matter, ultimately leading to its referral to the ICJ.