Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his country is taking every necessary step to protect itself from Venezuela, which has ordered its state-owned companies to explore and exploit oil and minerals in Guyana’s vast Essequibo region that it considers its own.
Quick Read
- Guyana’s Response to Venezuela’s Actions: President Irfaan Ali of Guyana is taking steps to protect the country from Venezuela’s claims and activities in the Essequibo region.
- Seeking Military Assistance: Ali indicated that Guyana is reaching out to allies and regional partners, some with defense agreements, for support in protecting Essequibo.
- Venezuela’s Exploration Plans in Essequibo: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced plans to grant licenses for oil and mineral exploration in Essequibo and to create local subsidiaries of state-owned companies like PDVSA.
- Venezuela’s Defense Zone Creation: Maduro also declared a Comprehensive Defense Operational Zone in the disputed territory, similar to Venezuela’s special military commands.
- Guyana’s International Law Concerns: President Ali emphasized that Venezuela’s actions defy international law and could destabilize regional peace and stability.
- Guyana’s Diplomatic Outreach: Guyana plans to discuss the issue at the U.N. Security Council meeting and has contacted the U.S., Brazil, the U.K., France, the U.N. secretary-general, and the U.S. Southern Command.
- International Court of Justice Ruling: Ali accused Venezuela of defying a recent ICJ ruling that ordered Venezuela not to act in the disputed region until it decides on the competing claims.
- Venezuela’s Condemnation of Guyana’s Stance: The Venezuelan government criticized Guyana’s approach and called for resuming dialogue instead of what it sees as “threatening” behavior.
- ExxonMobil’s Discovery and Dispute Escalation: The dispute over Essequibo intensified after ExxonMobil’s announcement of significant oil finds off the coast in 2015.
- Historical Basis of Venezuela’s Claim: Venezuela bases its claim on historical boundaries from the Spanish colonial period and rejects the 1899 border drawn when Guyana was a British colony.
- Maduro’s Referendum on Essequibo: Maduro’s recent referendum, which Venezuelans approved, asserts sovereignty over Essequibo, but President Ali dismissed it as a “failure” and is preparing for any outcome.
The Associated Press has the story:
President Irfaan Ali: Guyana will defend itself from Venezuela over disputed area
Newslooks- SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his country is taking every necessary step to protect itself from Venezuela, which has ordered its state-owned companies to explore and exploit oil and minerals in Guyana’s vast Essequibo region that it considers its own.
When asked if he has requested military assistance, Ali said his government is reaching out to allies and regional partners, some of which Guyana has defense agreements with, to protect the Essequibo region, which makes up two-thirds of the country.
“We take this threat very seriously, and we have initiated a number of precautionary measures to ensure the peace and stability of this region,” Ali said in a brief phone interview.
He noted that Guyana’s Defense Force also is speaking with counterparts in other countries but didn’t say which ones.
“Should Venezuela proceed to act in this reckless and adventurous manner, the region will have to respond,” he said. “And that is what we’re building. We’re building a regional response.”
Ali spoke a day after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he would “immediately” grant operating licenses for exploration and exploitation in Essequibo and ordered the creation of local subsidiaries of Venezuelan public companies, including oil giant PDVSA and mining conglomerate Corporación Venezolana de Guayana.
Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but years of mismanagement and economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. against Maduro’s government have hurt PDVSA and subsidiaries.
Maduro also announced the creation of a Comprehensive Defense Operational Zone for the territory in dispute. It would be similar to special military commands that operate in certain regions of Venezuela.
“The announcements by Venezuela are in full defiance of international law,” Ali said. “And any country that so openly defies important international bodies should be of concern not only for Guyana but for all of the world.” He said Venezuela’s actions can severely disrupt the region’s stability and peaceful coexistence.
Guyana expects to bring up the issue at Wednesday’s U.N. Security Council meeting.
The president said in a statement late Tuesday that his administration has reached out to the U.S., neighboring Brazil, the U.K., France, the U.N. secretary general and the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Ali also accused Venezuela of defying a ruling that the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands issued last week. It ordered Venezuela not to take any action until the court rules on the countries’ competing claims, a process expected to take years.
Venezuela’s government condemned Ali’s statement, accusing Guyana of acting irresponsibly and allegedly giving the U.S. Southern Command the green light to enter the Essequibo region.
Venezuela called on Guyana to resume dialogue and leave aside its “erratic, threatening and risky conduct.”
The diplomatic row over the Essequibo region has flared over the years but intensified in 2015 after ExxonMobil announced it had found vast amounts of oil off its coast.
Venezuela insists the region belongs to it because Essequibo was within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial period. Venezuela rejects the border that international arbitrators drew in 1899, when Guyana was still under British rule.
The dispute escalated after Maduro held a referendum on Sunday in which Venezuelans approved his claim of sovereignty over Essequibo.
Ali called the referendum a “failure” and said Guyana is preparing for any eventuality.
