Venezuelan troops mass at Guyana border, sparking fears over disputed oil‑rich Essequibo region
Not only Guyanese media but also journalists from CNN Brazil, who are citing satellite imagery provided by Maxar company, have confirmed instances of the growing presence of Venezuelan troops near Essequibo.
The risk of conflict is ramping up
"Pictures captured in January validate that military engagements are underway on the Venezuelan island of Anacoco, situated on the Cuyuni River, bordering Guyana," CNN Brasil reported.
The satellite imagery obtained from Maxar also presents evidence of new infrastructure, as well as a rising number of armoured vehicles amassed by the Venezuelan army at the Guyana border.
On Sunday, the Brazilian army command revealed that it had dispatched over 30 vehicles, inclusive of armoured transports, near the nation's border with Venezuela and Guyana, in response to the potential threat of armed confrontation over Essequibo.
On 4th December 2023, Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, declared that the authorities in Caracas acknowledge the referendum conducted the day prior on the annexation of Essequibo to Venezuela as binding.
Maduro stated that his country dismisses the verdict of international adjudicators from 1899, who demarcated the boundary while Guyana was still under British Colonial Rule.
Dispute over abundant oil and gas reserves
Venezuela's interest in the Essequibo region, representing two-thirds of Guyana's territory, heightened post-2015 following the discovery of generous deposits of oil and natural gas.
Two days subsequent to the referendum, Maduro urged state mining corporations to commence the exploitation of natural resources in Essequibo. He also proclaimed a series of measures for Venezuela to occupy the area, which included issuing Venezuelan identity papers to the local inhabitants.
As a result of the Caracas regime's rulinngs, Guyana's authorities announced the initiation of military drills in the proximity of the border with Venezuela.
