Guyana has heightened its alert status after Venezuelan naval forces entered its exclusive economic zone. The Guyanese government has deployed air assets and mobilized the Coast Guard. President Irfaan Ali has confirmed the legitimacy of Guyana’s maritime operations in the face of Venezuelan claims regarding ‘undelimited waters.’
Guyana has entered a state of heightened vigilance following the reported incursion of a Venezuelan navy ship into its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Saturday morning, as reported by OilNOW. The government has promptly deployed air assets and activated its Coast Guard to respond to the situation in the affected maritime area.
President Irfaan Ali addressed the nation, confirming that the Venezuelan naval vessel reached areas near significant installations within the Guyanese EEZ, particularly the Prosperity floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), managed by ExxonMobil. He emphasized that all operations, including that of the FPSO Prosperity, are legally conducted within Guyana’s EEZ.
The Venezuelan patrol vessel was identified as “ABF Wakari PO-11 IMO 4695542”, linked to the Venezuelan Coast Guard. President Ali reiterated the legitimacy of Guyana’s maritime activities. The Venezuelan ship purportedly communicated via radio, claiming that the FPSO was engaged in operations in “undelimited waters.”
In summary, Guyana is responding to an incursion by a Venezuelan naval vessel into its exclusive economic zone, raising regional tensions. The government has fortified its defense measures through air asset deployment and Coast Guard mobilization. President Irfaan Ali clarified the legitimacy of Guyana’s maritime operations in the EEZ, countering claims made by the Venezuelan vessel.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
