Guyana’s government has announced that it has satellite imagery evidence provided by Western allies indicating Venezuelan military movements near the border of the disputed oil-rich Essequibo region.
“Guyana’s government said Saturday that it has satellite imagery evidence from friendly western allies showing Venezuelan military movements near the South American country’s eastern border with Guyana.
Officials claimed the administration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is breaching a peace agreement signed in the Caribbean in December to ease tensions over border demarcation lines.
Foreign Minister Hugh Todd and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said Guyana is monitoring the situation across the river border.
The two sides have feuded over border lines for decades. Venezuela has been laying claim to the mineral-rich Essequibo region, which covers about two-thirds of Guyana’s surface area.
They condemned Venezuela for not abiding with the Argyle Agreement signed on the island of St. Vincent in December, in which the two countries agreed not to use force or to threaten each other. The talks were brokered by Brazil and Caribbean governments.
The two sides have feuded over border lines for decades.
Guyana argues that an 1899 international boundary commission had settled the border demarcation once and for all.
But for more than 60 years Venezuela has accused the commission of cheating it out of the Essequibo region”. -Bert Wilkinson, Associated Press
In response to Venezuelans voting in a recent referendum to make the Essequibo region a Venezuelan state, the United States has now increased its military cooperation with Guyana amid tensions with the neighboring South American country, which has been under oil sanctions imposed by the U.S. since 2019 when an American-backed coup failed to oust President Maduro.