Crise entre Venezuela e Guiana na região do Esequibo: A atuação do Brasil de 2015 até abril de 2024 e suas implicações regionais

Abstract

The oil discoveries in Guyana since 2015 have caused significant geopolitical and economic ramifications, exacerbating both internal and external conflicts and attracting the interest of actors such as the United States and Venezuela. In a broader context, the northern region of South America is becoming an important scenario in the global power dynamics, highlighting the influence of China and Russia, as well as the United States, while Brazil remains as a secondary role in this scene. This academic work aimed to analyze Brazil's role in the territorial crisis between Venezuela and Guyana, in the Essequibo region, from 2015 to April 2024, through a comparative study between the concept of soft power, presented by Joseph Nye, and the actions of Brazilian governments. The research investigated how Brazil employed diplomatic and strategic tools to mediate the conflict and promote regional stability, highlighting the different political stances among Brazilian governments. Firstly, the theoretical foundations of soft power were presented, complemented by the concepts of hard power and smart power, contextualizing their application in international relations. Then, a detailed overview of the crisis between Venezuela and Guyana was outlined, covering the historical background to the most recent developments, and highlighting the complexity of the territorial dispute. Subsequently, Brazil's relations with the main countries involved in the territorial dispute and the actions of Brazilian governments in mediating the crisis were examined. Finally, the conclusion confirmed the adopted hypothesis, as the different political and diplomatic approaches of Brazilian governments during the period impacted Brazil's ability to exert its soft power and establish itself as a legitimate leader in the region