Why did the United States support Venezuela in the 1895 Essequibo boundary dispute?

The United States supported Venezuela in the 1895 boundary dispute with Great Britain primarily to assert its influence in the Western Hemisphere under the Monroe Doctrine.12

U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney argued that the doctrine prohibited European powers from intervening in the internal affairs of nations in the Americas. By demanding that Britain arbitrate the controversy, the U.S. sought to prevent potential conflict and reinforce its role as a regional power, asserting that any attempt by a European nation to control territory in the hemisphere would be viewed as a hostile act. This interventionist stance was part of a broader, evolving U.S. foreign policy aimed at defining a sphere of influence and precluding European encroachment in the region.123

Ultimately, this diplomatic pressure led to the establishment of an international tribunal, which resulted in the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award.42