Heads of government of the Caribbean Community CARICOM will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the situation surrounding the disputed Essequibo region, which Venezuela plans to integrate into its territory. The newspaper reported that joint statements would be made after the conference. Stabroek News.
Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Affairs Minister Ameri Brown confirmed the emergency meeting of heads of government via video conference on Friday. He also noted that additional statements would be made after the meeting.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday called on the national assembly to pass legislation to protect the disputed Guyana-Essequibo region and announced that a social assistance plan for the region’s population would be activated immediately. He also proposed the creation of a “Guyana-Essequibo Integrated Defense Region” as an interim legal measure to integrate the new region.
CARICOM countries had previously supported the International Court of Justice’s decision ordering Venezuela to refrain from actions that could change the current situation in the disputed territory administered by Guyana. Mercosur also in the name Venezuela and Guyana will refrain from unilateral action on Essequibo.
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali sees Venezuela’s actions as a threat to national security and plans to appeal to the UN Security Council and international partners.
Before this, it was known that Venezuelan authorities would mobilize troops to annex Essequibo, which makes up almost two-thirds of the territory of neighboring Guyana. Disputes over ownership of the area have been going on for over 200 years, but came to life with the discovery of oil fields. Experts do not rule out that Caracas solved both political and economic problems before the election by laying claim to Essequibo. Will Venezuela go to war with Guyana and why the conflict could open a “Pandora’s box” across the region? “Newspapers.Ru”.
The territorial dispute between Venezuela, Great Britain and Guyana began in the 19th century. The Venezuelan government stepped up its actions after Guyana began handing over the development of fossil-rich areas of the disputed shelf to oil companies.
Previously USA in the name Venezuela and Guyana agreed to a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute.
Source: Gazeta
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.