Marigot, Dominica – December 30, 2023
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has issued orders for the country’s armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean following the deployment of a British warship, HMS Trent, toward Guyana’s territorial waters. The move comes as Venezuela and Guyana are embroiled in a border dispute over the Essequibo region, known for its vast oil deposits.
In a nationally televised address on Thursday, President Maduro announced that approximately 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will engage in joint operations off the nation’s eastern coast, near the disputed border with Guyana. Maduro characterized the arrival of HMS Trent as a “threat” to Venezuela and argued that it violates a recent agreement between the two South American nations.
“We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue and in peace, but no one is going to threaten Venezuela. This is an unacceptable threat to any sovereign country in Latin America,” declared President Maduro during the televised address, flanked by military commanders.
The border dispute centers on the Essequibo, a sparsely populated region with extensive oil reserves off Guyana’s shores. While Guyana has maintained control over the region for decades, Venezuela reignited its historical claim through a December referendum, seeking public opinion on whether the Essequibo should become part of Venezuela. Tensions escalated, prompting leaders from both nations to meet in St Vincent and sign an agreement to resolve the dispute through nonviolent means.
However, during the talks, President Irfan Ali of Guyana asserted the nation’s right to collaborate with partners for its defense. The recent deployment of HMS Trent by the United Kingdom to Guyana’s shores further heightened tensions.
HMS Trent, a patrol and rescue ship, was redirected from an anti-drug trafficking mission off the West Coast of Africa to Guyana. The ship, equipped with 30mm cannons, a landing pad for helicopters and drones, and capable of accommodating up to 30 sailors and 18 marines, is expected to conduct joint operations with Guyana’s defense forces.
The United Kingdom’s Defense Ministry, confirming the ship’s new mission, stated that it would collaborate with Guyana’s military. Guyana, with a population of 800,000, maintains a modest military force of 3,000 soldiers, 200 sailors, and four patrol boats known as Barracudas.
As tensions escalate in the region, Nate Media continues to monitor the situation closely, providing updates on this developing international dispute. For comprehensive coverage, stay connected with Nate Media, your leading source for community, international, and national news developments.
