The US voiced support for Guyana in its dispute with Venezuela over the Esequibo jungle territory, which contains vast amounts of oil and gas.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a conversation with Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday, the State Department reported. Hours earlier, White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that the US did not want to witness any violence stemming from the territorial dispute.
Guyana and Venezuela claim ownership of Essequibo, a 62,000-square-mile area around the Essequibo River. The dispute dates back to the late 19th century, when Guyana was still a British colony.
Venezuela has renewed its claim to the land after 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas were discovered off the coast of Guyana in recent years. Furthermore, Venezuela held a referendum on Sunday in which voters overwhelmingly backed their government’s claim to Essequibo.
President Nicolas Maduro has received support for the creation of a new state and promises oil and mineral exploration in the territory. The discovery of valuable raw materials has put Guyana on the map of the world’s oil producers.
Brazil began deploying troops and armoured vehicles to Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima state, bordering Venezuela and Guyana.
The consortium, comprising Exxon Mobil, China’s CNOOC and US-based Hess Corporation, started producing oil in 2019. It is producing 400,000 barrels per day at present, dramatically boosting Guyana’s economy.
However, analysts believe that the referendum in Venezuela, in which voters also rejected the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the dispute, will not lead to an actual invasion. Rather, they say, it is more an attempt by Maduro to demonstrate strength and gauge support for his government ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
President Ali, who also spoke with UN Secretary General António Guterres, stated on Tuesday that Guyana would inform the UN and the International Court of Justice of Maduro’s comments regarding the proposed oil development.
According to him, his country’s armed forces are on high alert, saying Venezuela has declared itself an “outlaw nation.”
