Venezuela

Abstract Venezuela’s relationship with international law has fluctuated throughout its history, shaped by its internal struggles and external ambitions. This chapter examines Venezuela’s engagement with international law through five key themes. First, it explores the influence of Andrés Bello, a Venezuelan scholar who significantly shaped international law in the Americas during the 19th century. Second, it analyzes the Esequibo dispute and the 1899 Paris Award which fostered Venezuela’s mistrust of international dispute settlement mechanisms. Third, it reflects on the 1902 blockade of Venezuelan ports, which led to the first treaty limiting the use of force in international law. Fourth, it highlights the 1942 Gulf of Paria Treaty, an early precedent for state claims over continental shelves. Lastly, it examines the contested recognition of Venezuela’s government in 2019 amid political instability. These episodes provide insights into Venezuela’s evolving engagement with international law, marked by cooperation and conflict, and illustrate its broader implications for global legal and political systems.