At ‌issue is a 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) border territory around the Esequibo river, which is mostly ⁠jungle, and ⁠an offshore area where significant discoveries of oil and gas have been made. 

Guyana brought the dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, also known as the World Court, in 2018.

"Venezuela does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice," Venezuelan representative Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta told the court. 

After the ⁠capture ⁠of President Nicolas Maduro ⁠and his wife by U.S. forces in January, Venezuela is being run by an interim government that maintains its claim ⁠on the Esequibo region.

Guyana seeks ruling on border

Guyana wants the court, which deals with disputes between states, to confirm the border laid down in an 1899 arbitration between Venezuela and the then-colony of British Guiana, according to which the territory belongs ⁠to Guyana. 

On Monday, Guyana told judges that Venezuela's "unlawful" claim applies to more than ⁠70% of Guyana's territory and is an existential threat.

Moncada on Wednesday dismissed the 1899 arbitral award as fraudulent and imposed by colonial forces in an example of gunboat diplomacy. He repeated Venezuela's position that the border dispute can only be solved by talks between Venezuela and Guyana. 

He told judges Venezuela was "committed to continuing to act in good faith in direct negotiations with Guyana to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement".