Tensions over the Essequibo region within Guyana resurfaced at year’s end as neighboring nations showed signs of renewed strain after a period of uneasy calm. President Nicolás Maduro directed the Miraflores Palace to order military exercises in the eastern Caribbean in response to perceived threats to Venezuela’s territorial integrity from the United Kingdom.
The move came after Georgetown confirmed that a vessel had entered waters Venezuela claims as its own. The British ship HMS Trent reportedly navigated areas Caracas regards as beyond dispute. “This threat cannot be tolerated by Venezuela or any nation in the region. Our armed forces are taking a step forward in the first phase of this plan, uniting to defend our territory. We are not targeting anyone, but no one will invade Venezuela,” Maduro stated.
For its part, Caracas called the ship’s presence a violation of the Argyle Agreements, signed the previous December 14 to steer a bilateral dispute toward dialogue. Maduro and Guyana’s president, Irfaan Ali, had met in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines amid frictions tied to an old quarrel over Essequibo. The flare of public debate followed Venezuela’s early moves suggesting a potential annexation of a large, hydrocarbon- and mineral-rich portion of territory.
Caracas argued that HMS Trent’s activity marked a further setback. Maduro declared that Venezuela would not remain idle and would respond proportionally to the threats, while preserving the option to take any necessary measures to defend sovereign regions. Ali countered that there was nothing to fear from activities near Guyana or its waters.
Venezuela rejects any UK intervention in the Guayana Esequiba dispute. Some observers remind that a controversial 1899 award has long been used to justify Venezuelan claims to Essequibo, though the country maintains that the land still belongs to Venezuela. Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president, asserted that the United Kingdom must respect obligations set out in the Argyle Declaration and refrain from actions that threaten regional peace. She highlighted that the Geneva Convention of 1966 envisions a mutually acceptable resolution through dialogue and, if needed, before the International Court of Justice. Meanwhile Ali reiterated that Essequibo is not up for negotiation or discussion.
British reaction
Georgetown enjoys support from the United States and the United Kingdom, while Brazil has not aligned with Caracas. A spokesman from the British Foreign Office said the ship would not dock in Georgetown and that the exercises would occur at sea as part of routine operations in the area. London stressed efforts to prevent escalation and urged Caracas to halt what it described as unfair actions against a neighbor. The border in question was historically defined in the 1889 agreements, and Guyana is viewed as a key regional partner within the Commonwealth.
Analysts highlight three focal issues amid renewed military tensions between Venezuela and Guyana. First, simultaneous exercises by two states with disputed borders around the area are likely to elevate tensions. Second, the presence of an external military actor adds another layer of risk. Third, the breach of agreed accords raises concerns about neighbourly conduct and regional stability.
Bringing in a voice from civil society, observers warn that the regional risk increases when two states with undefined borders engage in provocative maneuvers near contested zones. Critics argue that the current posture reveals a show of force that complicates diplomacy and can undermine regional cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In this ongoing debate, regional voices urge adherence to peaceful norms and to avoid actions that could escalate the dispute. The period has underscored the importance of clear, lawful dispute resolution mechanisms and maintains that any resolution should be pursued through recognized international forums and treaties, rather than unilateral moves that raise tensions.