Guyana Reports Venezuelan Incursion in Offshore Oil Block

President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has raised concerns after a Venezuelan coast guard patrol reportedly entered Guyanese waters on Saturday. The patrol allegedly approached an output vessel in an offshore oil block managed by Exxon Mobil, sparking tensions between the two South American nations.

The incident occurred in the midst of a longstanding territorial dispute over the Esequibo area, a 160,000-square-km region claimed by both countries. The matter is currently under review at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with no resolution in sight.

According to President Ali, the Venezuelan vessel encroached on Guyana’s exclusive waters, including the FPSO Prosperity. However, the Venezuelan government has refuted these claims, asserting that the waters in question are subject to pending delimitation and do not fall under Guyanese jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, Guyana has taken diplomatic action in response to the incident. The Venezuelan ambassador has been summoned to address Guyana’s objections, and the country plans to lodge a formal complaint with Venezuela. Additionally, Guyana intends to report the matter to the ICJ and seek support from international partners, such as CARICOM.

In a countermove, Venezuela has urged Guyana to adhere to the Geneva agreement of 1966, which aimed to settle the border dispute peacefully. The Organization of American States (OAS) has condemned Venezuela’s actions, labeling it as a violation of Guyana’s maritime territory.

The United States has also weighed in on the situation, warning of consequences for the Maduro regime if further provocations occur. The deployment of air assets by Guyana further underscores the seriousness of the incident and the potential for escalation.

As tensions simmer between Guyana and Venezuela, the international community will be closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further destabilization in the region.

(Source: Reuters – Reporting by Kemol King in Georgetown; Additional Reporting by Mayela Armas; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Nia Williams)