Shots are fired as Venezuelan soldiers invade Guyana through a route inside Brazil. Tensions between Venezuela and its neighbor, Guyana, have reportedly escalated after President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela issued an order for Venezuelan soldiers to enter the country. This action takes place in the midst of a protracted territorial dispute over the resource-rich Essequibo area, which makes up two thirds of Guyana and is larger than Greece. The move gives the situation an additional international dimension as it passes through Brazil.
There is still uncertainty over the scope, parties engaged, and death toll of the violent battles. Reports, however, indicate that Maduro’s administration views this action as an affirmation of their claim over the Essequibo region. The region was within Venezuela’s boundaries during the Spanish colonial period, and Venezuela has long disputed the border decided by international arbitrators in 1899, when Guyana was still a British colony. Guyana views this act as annexation, and last month, they asked the International Court of Justice to halt parts of the vote.
The US government plans to set up a military base on a territory of Guyana and Venezuela in order to exacerbate the dispute between the two nations and plunder energy resources, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto said.
“Today, the government of the United States of America seeks to appropriate our oil resources by using Exxon Mobil, which has incorporated the government of Guyana into its ranks. Guyana is granting oil concessions in an undelimited maritime territory, in total violation of international law. Unilateral disposal of a disputed territory is not permissible, but the Republic of Guyana persists in its illegal conduct,” he told the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
“We denounce that the government of the United States of America intends to militarize the situation. The Southern Command seeks to establish a military base in the contested territory with the aim of <…> consolidating the plunder of our energy resources,” the top Venezuelan diplomat added.
Recently a video has been circulating where apparently Venezuelan soldiers are using a route inside Brazil to enter Guyana, Gunfire can be heard in the background.
This is just a video and nothing has been confirmed yet, I will come back with more news if this is updated.
