Marco Rubio is visiting Guyana to offer U.S. security assurance amidst rising tensions with Venezuela. The trip involves signing a security cooperation memorandum following the discovery of significant oil reserves in Guyana, which aims to become the world’s largest oil producer per capita. The U.S. priorities and differing strategies between administrations are influencing this geopolitical situation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Guyana to offer U.S. security assurances to the oil-rich nation as tensions with Venezuela increase. After a decade-long oil discovery, Guyana is expected to surpass Qatar and Kuwait in oil production per capita this year. During his visit, Rubio will sign a memorandum of understanding to enhance security cooperation, addressing Venezuelan claims against Guyana.
This visit follows Rubio’s discussions with Caribbean nations in Jamaica, with a subsequent stop in Suriname. The Trump administration envisions a security relationship with Guyana similar to those with Gulf Arab countries, aimed at countering threats from Venezuela as articulated by Mauricio Claver-Carone, U.S. special envoy on Latin America.
Despite Guyana’s poverty, President Irfaan Ali is advocating for tighter defense ties with the U.S., including cooperative maritime patrols. The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolas Maduro, has aggressively staked claims to areas in Guyana, primarily the oil-rich Essequibo region. Guyana has condemned Venezuelan incursions into its waters, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
Venezuela’s parliament has attempted to formalize its claims over Essequibo, which Guyana maintains was settled by an 1899 arbitration. The Trump administration is prioritizing oil production, emphasizing economic and security benefits, in contrast to the Biden administration’s focus on renewable energy. ExxonMobil is leading oil production in Guyana, and projections indicate a surge to 1.3 million barrels a day by the decade’s end, vastly exceeding Venezuela’s declining output due to historical mismanagement and sanctions.
Marco Rubio’s visit to Guyana highlights the U.S. commitment to strengthening security ties in light of Venezuelan threats. As Guyana emerges as a leading oil producer, the U.S. seeks to bolster defense cooperation amidst regional tensions. The differing U.S. administrations’ approaches to energy production and foreign policy further illustrate the complexities involved in the U.S.-Guyana-Venezuela dynamics.
Original Source: www.albianews.com
