The U.S. issued a warning to Maduro after a Venezuelan warship threatened ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyanese waters. Guyana’s President condemned the incursion, asserting the protection of territorial integrity. Tensions are heightened due to a long-standing dispute over the Essequibo region, with Maduro pursuing aggressive claims following a controversial referendum. Recent violence linked to Venezuelan criminal groups further complicates the situation.
On Saturday, the United States issued a strong warning to Nicolás Maduro’s regime following the incursion of a Venezuelan patrol boat into Guyanese waters, which poses a threat to ExxonMobil’s offshore operations. The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs labeled the actions as “unacceptable” and a breach of Guyana’s internationally recognized maritime territory. They emphasized that further provocations would lead to consequences for the Maduro regime, reaffirming support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and the arbitration ruling from 1899.
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali condemned the presence of the Venezuelan military vessel near ExxonMobil’s operational area in Essequibo, an oil-rich region claimed by both Venezuela and Guyana. In a televised address, Ali expressed serious concerns, stating that Guyana’s maritime boundaries are safeguarded by international law and that threats to territorial integrity will not be tolerated. He also noted that all international allies, including the United States, had been informed about the situation.
The dispute over Essequibo, a region the size of Florida, has a long history, but tensions surged after a December 2023 referendum in which Maduro sought approval from Venezuelans to use military force in claiming the territory. Despite allegations of electoral fraud, Maduro claimed a 98% approval for his actions. Throughout the following year, Maduro amplified his rhetoric on state media, vowing not to relinquish Venezuela’s claim on Essequibo, which has been under Guyanese control since 1899.
Amid these tensions, Maduro also enacted legislation to designate Essequibo as a newly minted Venezuelan state, further escalating military activity at the border. The Essequibo region comprises six of Guyana’s ten regions and is home to approximately 125,000 residents out of its total population of 800,000. Recent events put pressure on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), with reports of injuries to soldiers during a supply transport ambush attributed to Venezuelan criminal groups. This incident was dismissed by Maduro as a “vile frame-up.”
The U.S. has firmly condemned Venezuelan military actions within Guyana’s maritime territory, stressing the need for respect for international law. Guyana’s government is actively engaging international allies to address the incursion, while the Maduro regime is intensifying claims over the disputed Essequibo region. This longstanding territorial dispute is complicated by recent military escalations and political maneuvers from both nations.
Original Source: www.miamiherald.com
