Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has once again managed to diffuse tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, as on Saturday March 1st, 2025, the Argyle Declaration was activated and proved effective.
The Argyle Declaration was signed at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) on December 14th, 2023, between President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, and President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.
The leaders reiterated their commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean remaining a Zone of Peace after Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves called the meeting to discuss Guyana and Venezuela’s dispute over the Essequibo region.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, speaking on Radio on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, said the Argyle Declaration was put into action when a situation arose in Guyana’s waters due to the presence of a Venezuelan vessel on Saturday, March 1st, 2025.
The PM said he was alerted to a potential escalation after the Venezuelan boat was spotted near an oil extraction site in Guyana waters.
Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves said when the Argyle Declaration was activated on March 1st, he engaged in urgent discussions, including a meeting with Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, the current Chair of CARICOM, to ensure tensions did not escalate.
The Prime Minister said that further discussions on the matter are expected.
