evidence: More recently, the virulence of these disputes has been exacerbated locally by the presence, whether proven or assumed, of mineral or sea-life resources, as it is along this narrow coastal band that traditional fishing, hydrocarbon deposits, tourism, as well as the potential for aquaculture and marithermic power generation, are concentrated.1 Differences between Colombia and Venezuela over the tiny islets of Los Monjes at the entrance to the Gulf of Venezuela would be less acrimonious but for the significant presence of fishing resources, as well as the probability of oil reserves in nearby ocean depths. [...] This Venezuelan archipelago, 0.2 km2 in area, is situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Venezuela, 35 km from the Guajira Peninsula (Colombia) and 45 km to the northeast of the state of Zulia (Venezuela). It is made up of three groups of uninhabited rocks and islets (except for a Venezuelan garrison) and without vegetation: South Monjes (70 m in altitude), East Monjes (43 m) and North Monjes (41 m).