Venezuela’s Historical Border Disputes: Colombia, Brazil, Guyana
Venezuela’s Historical Border Disputes
The Michelena-Pombo Treaty (1833)
On December 14, 1833, three years after the dissolution of Gran Colombia, Lino de Pombo, representing Colombia, and Santos Michelena, representing Venezuela, signed a treaty of friendship, alliance, commerce, navigation, and limits. This treaty, however, was rejected by Venezuelan congress members.
Subsequent Agreements with Colombia
After the Michelena-Pombo treaty, another agreement was signed on July 23, 1842, focusing on friendship, commerce, and navigation.
Colombia Border: Spanish Arbitration Award
On March 16, 1891, Queen Regent María Cristina issued an arbitral award. This award stipulated that the boundary between Venezuela and Colombia began at a ‘pile of loose stones’ (Mojones de los Frailes) and did not favor Venezuela’s claims regarding the Queen’s rights. Subsequently, Venezuela and Colombia engaged in a series of pacts and negotiations to resolve their adjacent differences. A pact was signed with Colombia on December 30, 1898.
Boundary with Brazil
Negotiations with Brazil commenced in 1843, based on the dividing line established between Spain and Portugal in the eighteenth century. On May 5, 1859, a treaty was signed between Venezuela and the Emperor of Brazil, Pedro II. This treaty was later ratified by the Venezuelan Congress, with notable votes.
Boundary Dispute with British Guiana
The Schomburgk Line and British Expansion
In 1835, the British Crown commissioned Robert Schomburgk to survey the possessions ceded by Holland. This survey led to the demarcation of a line that encroached upon approximately 4,920 km² of Venezuelan territory. Schomburgk’s subsequent publication of a map, which depicted the Essequibo River as the border between Venezuela and British Guiana, sparked strong protests in Caracas, highlighting England’s expansionist ambitions west of the Essequibo River.
Escalation and Arbitration
Following Venezuela’s protests, a commitment was signed with England in 1850, agreeing that neither country would occupy the disputed territory until a definitive settlement was reached. However, the British later occupied the mouth of the Orinoco River in 1884 and granted concessions for gold exploitation in 1887. On February 2, 1897, a treaty was signed to establish an arbitral tribunal to determine the dividing line between Venezuela and British Guiana.
Consequences of Unresolved Border Issues
Demographic and Social Impacts
- Penetration of undocumented populations across poorly defined boundaries.
- Frequent clashes between populations of neighboring countries due to governments’ inability to reach mutually beneficial agreements.
Political Consequences
Venezuelan governments have been criticized for their inconsistent stance, particularly for accepting the 1891 arbitration instead of upholding the position of the 1840 Congress. This has created a negative image for government representatives.
Economic Consequences
- Significant increase in smuggling and drug trafficking, with goods entering the country without proper control or benefit.
- Illicit extraction of national heritage resources across the Colombian border.
Cultural Consequences
- Creation of cultural problems due to differences in opinions, traditions, and customs stemming from diverse roots, leading to significant confusion.
- Prevalence of illiteracy due to a lack of educational institutions, reflecting governmental neglect of these border populations.