Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Attacking Guyana Oil Fields \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela on Thursday that any attack on Guyana or its oil operations would provoke a strong U.S. response. Speaking from Georgetown, Rubio reaffirmed U.S. support for Guyana amid growing regional tensions over oil-rich disputed territory. Guyana also launched joint naval drills with the U.S. Navy.
Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Attacking Guyana Oil Fields: Quick Looks
- Rubio visits Guyana on second leg of Caribbean tour
- Threatens consequences if Venezuela attacks Guyana or ExxonMobil
- U.S. condemns Venezuela’s territorial claims as “adventurism”
- Rubio signs security agreement with Guyanese officials
- Venezuela recently sent a warship near disputed Exxon oil zone
- Guyana begins joint naval drills with U.S. Navy’s USS Normandy
- Essequibo region at center of escalating border dispute
- ExxonMobil oil discovery key to U.S. energy strategy
- Trump administration imposes new sanctions tied to Venezuelan oil
- U.S. aims to increase presence in Latin American energy policy
Deep Look
U.S. Warns Venezuela Over Guyana Threats as Tensions Escalate in Oil-Rich Region
Amid growing fears of regional conflict in South America, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stark warning to Venezuela on Thursday: any attack on Guyana or U.S. oil interests in the region will be met with force.
Rubio, speaking during a high-stakes visit to Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, made the comments at a joint press conference with President Irfaan Ali. His remarks follow a series of provocative actions by Venezuela, including naval activity in disputed waters rich in offshore oil reserves, and come at a time when the U.S. is deepening its involvement in Latin America’s evolving energy landscape.
“It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil,” Rubio warned. “It would not end well for them.”
A Flashpoint Over the Essequibo Region
At the heart of the escalating crisis is Essequibo, a vast, resource-rich area that makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Venezuela has revived its claim over the region, despite international recognition of Guyana’s sovereignty.
The situation took a dangerous turn earlier this month when a Venezuelan naval vessel entered Guyana’s exclusive economic zone, coming dangerously close to oil storage ships operated by ExxonMobil, Hess Corp., and CNOOC in the Stabroek Block—a site believed to hold over 11 billion barrels of oil.
President Ali described the incident as an incursion and accused Venezuela of aggressive posturing aimed at undermining Guyana’s territorial integrity and economic future.
U.S. Strategic Interests: Oil, Security, and Sanctions
Rubio’s visit marks the second stop on a three-nation Caribbean tour, part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to:
- Curb illegal migration and drug trafficking
- Counter authoritarian regimes in the Western Hemisphere
- Promote energy independence from Venezuela and other hostile nations
The U.S. has major stakes in Guyana’s oil production, especially through ExxonMobil’s involvement. Trump has imposed significant sanctions on Venezuela’s oil exports, and Washington views Guyana as a key partner in redirecting regional energy flows away from Caracas.
In that context, any disruption—military or otherwise—to Guyana’s offshore oil operations is not only a sovereignty issue but a national security concern for the U.S.
“The regional threats are based on illegitimate territorial claims by a narco-trafficking regime,” Rubio said, characterizing Venezuela’s government under President Nicolás Maduro.
Security Pact and Joint Naval Operations
Rubio also signed a bilateral security agreement with Guyana’s Foreign Minister, aimed at enhancing intelligence sharing, maritime security, and military-to-military cooperation. According to the U.S. State Department, the pact will bolster joint capacity to address regional threats—both conventional and transnational.
Coinciding with his visit, Guyana launched joint naval exercises with the U.S. Navy, involving the USS Normandy, a guided-missile cruiser. The drills are focused on patrolling Guyana’s maritime territory and deterring future Venezuelan aggression.
“This engagement reflects the strong and growing military-to-military relationship between Guyana and the United States,” Guyana’s military said in a statement.
The timing of these exercises sends a clear message: the U.S. is willing to support Guyana not just diplomatically, but militarily, if necessary.
Diplomacy Backed by Deterrence
Rubio’s forceful rhetoric signals a shift from soft diplomacy to hardline deterrence in the Western Hemisphere. His language—“a very bad day” and “it will not end well”—is a calculated warning to Caracas that the U.S. views any action against Guyana as a red line.
This message resonates not only with Venezuelan officials but with U.S. adversaries across the region, including Cuba and Nicaragua, and echoes Trump’s broader doctrine of using economic and military leverage to shape outcomes abroad.
Rubio’s approach mirrors the administration’s posture on China in the South China Sea, where threats to commercial and territorial sovereignty are treated as strategic flashpoints.
What’s at Stake: Resources, Sovereignty, and Regional Order
Guyana, once one of the poorest countries in South America, is now an emerging energy powerhouse, thanks to ExxonMobil’s 2015 oil discovery. The nation’s transformation has drawn global attention—and now, regional hostility.
For Venezuela, facing economic collapse and internal dissent, reviving historic territorial claims could be both a distraction and a strategic gamble. For Guyana, the stakes are existential—not just economically, but politically.
For the United States, it’s a test of credibility in the region. The message from Rubio is unmistakable: U.S. backing for allies like Guyana will be backed by action, not just words.
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