President Irfaan Ali of Guyana condemned the incursion of a Venezuelan naval vessel in disputed waters containing ExxonMobil’s offshore oil deposits. The Venezuelan Vice President disputed these claims and referred to ExxonMobil’s operations as illegal. The U.S. government echoed Guyana’s concerns, suggesting that further provocations may incur consequences on the Maduro regime. This incident contributes to a historical context of territorial disputes between the two nations.
In a recent televised address, President Irfaan Ali of Guyana condemned the incursion of an armed Venezuelan naval vessel into disputed waters, which are inhabited by significant offshore oil deposits under development by ExxonMobil. President Ali stated that this situation poses a serious threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity and emphasized that the nation will not tolerate such actions against its recognized maritime boundaries. The Guyanese government is actively communicating its concerns with international allies and has formally protested to Venezuela through its ambassador in Georgetown.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez refuted President Ali’s allegations, describing ExxonMobil’s oil operations as “illegal” and characterizing the Guyanese president’s statements as “bald-faced lies.” The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, voiced its support for Guyana, indicating that further provocations from the Maduro regime would lead to severe consequences as they reinforced sanctions on Venezuela.
Ali detailed the encounter, noting that the Venezuelan vessel was observed closely approaching large oil storage vessels being utilized by ExxonMobil and its partners. He mentioned the deployment of various aircraft and marine vessels to support operations in the Stabroek Block, which is estimated to contain around 11 billion barrels of oil. The tensions escalated following recent violent encounters between armed assailants suspected to be Venezuelan pirates and Guyanese military personnel.
The territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela has intensified since ExxonMobil’s oil discovery in 2015, reigniting a long-standing claim by Venezuela over a significant portion of Guyana’s territory, particularly the Essequibo region. Historically, territorial disagreements trace back to the 1890s, when Venezuela alleged that the boundaries commission had unjustly deprived it of access to these resource-rich regions, which have been administered by Guyana since its independence in 1966.
In conclusion, the recent Venezuelan naval incursion has sparked significant diplomatic tension between Venezuela and Guyana, which is seeking international support to uphold its territorial rights. The U.S. has reaffirmed its backing for Guyana amid escalated hostilities. As both nations navigate this longstanding territorial dispute, the global interest in Guyana’s oil reserves complicates the regional dynamics further.
Original Source: jamaica.loopnews.com
