Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has escalated tensions by deploying troops to the border with Guyana in preparation for claiming 160,000 square kilometers of territory known as Essequibo, according to reports from the Spanish daily El Pais. The move follows a controversial referendum in which 10.4 million Venezuelan voters allegedly approved incorporating the disputed territory, referred to as ‘Guyana Essequiba,’ into Venezuela.
An undisclosed number of Venezuelan troops has been sent to Puerto Barima in the state of Delta Amacuro, with Maduro unveiling a new map that incorporates the contested territory. He emphasized the desire for the “peaceful rescue” of Guayana Esequiba, accusing the British Empire and its heirs of de facto occupation and destruction of the area.
In response, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali delivered a televised address, denouncing Venezuela’s actions as a direct threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence. He pledged to intensify precautionary measures to safeguard Guyanese territory in the face of Venezuela’s claims.
The territorial dispute dates back to 1899 when the US assigned the disputed territory to the British colony of Guiana, a decision that Venezuela has never accepted as legitimate. In 2018, Venezuela referred the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The situation has been exacerbated by the discovery of significant oil reserves in the Atlantic Ocean, further intensifying the geopolitical stakes in the contested region.
Maduro, in a warning to foreign companies operating in the area without Caracas’ permission, stated that they have three months to “comply with the law.” The dispute underscores the complexity of territorial and resource-related conflicts, with the potential for broader regional implications.
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