The US Embassy in Georgetown announced that the exercise will be held on Thursday in cooperation with the Guyanese Air Force, as part of routine efforts to strengthen security in the area.
At the same time, it is reported that the UN Security Council will take up the border conflict for consideration on Friday at the request of Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd.
Venezuela calls the joint military exercise a provocation.
– This unfortunate provocation from the US in support of ExxonMobil in Guyana is yet another step in the wrong direction. We warn that we will not be diverted from our future actions on the reacquisition of Essequibo, writes Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez on Twitter/X.
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Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez during a Russian visit to the country in 2018. Photo: Frederico Parra / AFP / NTB
Don’t want war
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva is expressing concern about the rising tensions and suggested on Thursday that multilateral Latin American organizations step in to contribute to a solution.
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– We do not want, and we do not need, war in South America, Lula said at a Mercosur summit.
A century-long conflict between Guyana and Venezuela increased in intensity in 2015 when ExxonMobil discovered oil in the Essequibo region, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
Watch video: Here the dictator wipes away his tears
Oil extraction
In the referendum on Sunday, a large majority agreed to annex the area, and on Tuesday, Venezuelan authorities proposed to create a Venezuelan province in Guyana and asked the country’s oil companies to start issuing licenses for oil extraction there.
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali calls the move from Venezuela a direct threat to the country. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Ali and gave full support to Guyana’s sovereignty.
Guyana maintains that the border was established in an agreement from 1899, which Venezuela rejects. The case is now being considered by the Hague Tribunal, but Venezuela does not recognize the tribunal.
2023-12-07 20:11:13
#Rage #USA #provocation
