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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

March 13, 2025

Does Venezuelan Military Activity Threaten Guyana?

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said earlier this month that an armed Venezuelan navy ship was seen near oil installations off the country’s coastline. // File Photo: @presidentaligy via X.

Q

  • An armed Venezuelan naval ship was recently seen patrolling near one of the ExxonMobil-led consortium’s oil production vessels in Guyana’s offshore Stabroek Block, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali announced on March 1. In 2023, Venezuela formally claimed as its own territory Guyana’s Essequibo region, as well as a majority of the Stabroek Block, the area responsible for all of Guyana’s oil and gas production. What is behind the Venezuelan navy’s incursion in the Stabroek Block? To what extent does Venezuelan military activity pose a serious threat to Guyana’s oil sector? How might the international community—including the United States—respond to Venezuelan incursions into the Essequibo region?

A

Riyad Insanally, former ambassador of Guyana to the United States and fellow at the Caribbean Policy Consortium: “This was the most flagrant violation of Guyana’s exclusive economic zone since the Venezuelan navy intercepted seismic survey vessels in December 2018, and the first time that an incursion had occurred so far to the east and so close to offshore assets. Guyana’s robust diplomatic response secured strong statements of support from the international community, including Caricom, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as the secretaries general of the Commonwealth and the OAS. The approach by the Venezuelan ship, whilst highly provocative, was limited to a radio warning declaring the area to be ‘disputed international waters’—it appears to have been aimed at rallying support ahead of regional elections in May, which will include electing a governor of Guyana’s Essequibo region. Maduro might also…”

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