tension between Venezuelan And Guyana for him EssequiboThe 160,000 km2 disputed area with huge natural resources, forests and minerals is no longer just a bilateral issue. HE Security Council UN The conflict is being discussed behind closed doors this Friday at the request of Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, who announced Caracas’ planned action plan for the disputed region. “an imminent threat” for territorial integrity. The request to the UN body for “precautionary measures” coincides with a double move: on the one hand, an air exercise of the United States Southern Command in Guyana, and at the same time the announcement from the United States that Nicolás Maduro will soon meet with his Russian counterpart will meet in Moscow Vladimir Putin.
The region is afraid of this A gunfight broke out The Brazilian President also implied this: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva At the close of the Mercosur summit on Thursday, he asked member states (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia) and the region to do more to avoid that outcome. “What we don’t want is war. “Only with peace can we create wealth and improve the lives of our people.”
Venezuela has claimed Essequibo since the late 19th century and there is UN arbitration on the issue. Hugo Chavez He put this demand on hold as he sought to become leader of the Caribbean himself. Interest in the Palace of Miraflores was revived in 2015 with the discovery in the sea off the coast of oil reserves almost equivalent to those of Brazil. The American company ExxonMobil started operating it four years ago. That’s what this year is all about. 38% growth in economy. It is estimated that the growth in the GDP of the country with a population of approximately 800,000 could increase by 115% in the next five years.
new tensions
Tensions rose after a controversial public consultation attended by half the electorate, at one point raising the possibility of annexing the disputed territory. Venezuela has already included Guayana Esequiba on its maps and encouraged state oil company PDVSA to issue operating licenses in the area. Madurism proposes granting Venezuelan citizenship to 125,000 people living in that region.
“This is a direct threat to territorial integritysovereignty and political independence of Guyana,” he said, prompting a request to the Security Council for “appropriate measures” to be taken.maximum warning“From the Defense Forces.
Moscow takes the stage
With this background, Maduro prepares to board the plane to Moscow. “We have long agreed on the possibility of Mr. Maduro visiting Moscow in December this year,” said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s international advisor. “We assume that this issue is part of the relations between Venezuela and Guyana and needs to be resolved. be resolved in the spirit of good neighborliness through mutually acceptable peaceful solutions“said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman María Zajárova. For the newspaper Folha St. Paul’s”Trip introduces America’s enemy Russia to the South American crisis“.
Rightist Maria Corina MachadoHe expressed concern for relations with Maduro before a European Parliament subcommittee, seeking to lead the opposition in elections scheduled for the second half of 2024. “Use the escalation of the war with Guyana as an excuse to get off the electoral route.”“. Machado was disqualified from running for elected office by the Comptroller’s Office, but thanks to Norwegian-sponsored negotiations between the Government and its enemies, a small door was opened for the lifting of this sanction. However, Machado entered Essequibo onto the scene and the political panorama became tense again. A new law resulting from popular consultation would ban those accused of supporting Georgetown’s position from holding public office.
London speaks
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said: “unhappy provocation“The decision of the US Southern Command to conduct air exercises in Guyana. The general assured that ExxonMobil was behind the maneuvers. “We warn that they will not deter us from our future actions towards the liberation of Essequibo. Make no mistake!” Caracas media reported that five Guyanese soldiers died and two survived in the crash, which occurred while traveling by helicopter to visit troops near the Venezuelan border.
London has also come forward to support its former colony through its Foreign Secretary. David Cameron. “These borders were established in 1899. I see absolutely no argument for Venezuela to take unilateral action; this has to stop, it is a mistake.” Vice President Delcy Rodríguez immediately responded via the X network: “All that remains is the political, economic and social difficulties that the UK has fallen into.especially since Brexit, for which David Cameron is directly responsible.” In this sense, he reminded that the British Crown was one of the authors of the 1899 Paris Arbitration Award, which awarded Essequibo to Guyana and also signed it. 1966 In 1966, this The Geneva Agreement was signed, acknowledging the existence of a dispute over the region.