Venezuela has informed the International Court of Justice that it does not recognize the court's jurisdiction in its ongoing territorial dispute with Guyana over the oil-rich Essequibo region.

The case centers on a decades-old boundary dispute involving the Essequibo territory, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana's landmass and contains significant oil reserves. Venezuela has long claimed sovereignty over the region, which has been administered by Guyana since British colonial times.

Guyana brought the case to the World Court in 2018, seeking to validate the existing border and prevent Venezuelan encroachment on its territory. The Essequibo region has gained increased strategic importance following major offshore oil discoveries by ExxonMobil and other companies in recent years.

Venezuela's challenge to the court's jurisdiction represents a procedural hurdle that could delay substantive hearings on the territorial claims. The International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, typically requires both parties to accept its jurisdiction for cases to proceed.

The dispute has heightened tensions between the neighboring South American countries and drawn international attention due to the region's oil wealth. Both nations have maintained military presences along their shared border as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict continue.