New US Secretary of State affirms ‘steadfast’ support for Guyana’s territorial integrity 

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the new United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio engaged each other on Monday.

In a statement, Mr. Rubio’s spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the two leaders spoke to address the crisis of illegal migration and “agreed to jointly address this regional imperative and challenge.”

Importantly, it was noted: “The Secretary affirmed the United States’ steadfast support of Guyana’s territorial integrity in the face of Nicolás Maduro and his cronies’ bellicose actions.”

Late last year, Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said the government expects “strong solidarity” from Florida Senator, Marco Rubio who then nominated by United States President- elect Donald Trump to lead the State Department.

“He is aware of the Venezuela issue and we expect strong solidarity from him and President Trump, the US administration on the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy that is now before the International Court of Justice,” Vice President Jagdeo said then.

The border controversy case is squarely before the ICJ. Both parties are participating in the case.

Guyana hopes for a full, final and binding judgement that the border between the two states was settled after the 1899 Arbitral Award and a reaffirmation that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana.

The US and other countries part of the wider international community have expressed support for Guyana.