Venezuela’s socialist government on Sunday once again threatened neighboring Guyana if U.S. oil company ExxonMobil carries out oil drilling plans in waters near the disputed Essequibo area.
Essequibo occupies two-thirds of Guyana’s area. Venezuela has claimed it as its own for more than 120 years.
Dictator Nicolás Maduro’s government issued a statement on Sunday through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that Guyana’s “exxonmobil” denounced a malicious campaign prepared and funded by Maintaining the territorial integrity of border areas, national sovereignty and defense of the homeland through the Bolivarian Armed Forces. ”
#communication | Venezuela charges ExxonMobil’s Mariciosa camp against Guyana ⬇️https://t.co/hIdS4fNson
#VenezuelaAbanzaFeliz pic.twitter.com/TWylPSCB0j
— Cancilleria Venezuela 🇻 (@CancilleriaVE) February 11, 2024
Venezuela “reserves diplomatic actions and all rights enumerated in international law in order to give effect to all rights vested in it,” the statement asserted.
President Maduro made threats days after ExxonMobil announced It intends to carry out offshore exploration in the Essequibo area in search of oil. Alistair Routledge, president of ExxonMobil in Guyana, said: claimed The planned test drilling will take place “well to the south” of the disputed area.
According to local media, the area where the planned offshore oil exploration drilling will take place is the same area that was ruled by Maduro’s regime. deployed In December 2018, the Navy threatened ExxonMobil, blocking a then-planned oil exploration project.
The Maduro government’s statement went on to accuse Routledge of “substituting” Guyana’s sovereignty for his own authority, calling him “darling.”[ing] It is a threatening ruling that delights in the fact that a military power exists in a borderless ocean and has acquired illegal oil concessions, some of which lie in undisputed Venezuelan waters. ”
The statement read:
Venezuela has made clear to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States that the actions of ExxonMobil and the Guyana government violate fundamental principles of international law and constitute an act of aggression designed to destabilize the region.
Venezuela began insisting that Essequibo should be part of its territory when it gained independence from Spain in 1811, nearly 190 years before the dominant socialist regime seized power.
In 1899, arbitration proceedings held in Paris established the current borders between the two countries. Venezuela has historically denounced the process as rigged. A new agreement was signed in 1966, just months before Guyana, then known as British Guiana, gained independence from Britain.
The 1966 agreement provided for Guyana to administer the disputed territory until an unspecified permanent solution could be found. As of this writing, no such solution has yet been found.
Maduro’s government reignited the conflict with hostilities against Guyana after the neighboring country began discovering oil and gas in the disputed territory in 2015. The latest breakthrough is announced During October.
President Maduro reacted to the discovery by launching a wide-ranging campaign led by imposters to “annex” disputed territory. referendum “asked” Venezuelan voters to approve the annexation.
Extensive media and observer reports said the election was characterized by extremely low voter turnout and deserted areas near election centers.Maduro’s government makes the absurd claim that more than 10 million votes were cast in favor of annexing the Essequibo region, making it a “mission” to immediately begin conscription schedule To annex areas.Annexation started with President Maduro. give An identification card for Venezuelans, most of whom are indigenous to Essequibo.
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published Satellite images released on Friday suggest an expansion of Venezuela’s military presence in the border area with Guyana. Images dated January show the Maduro regime expanding military bases and personnel near the region.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López disrespected On Sunday, it expressed concern and insisted the military presence was of a “non-hostile” nature.
