Guyana: Venezuela’s incursion a threat to peace, regional stability

The Government of Guyana has launched a formal protest with the Venezuelan government following a list of encroachment activities by that nation’s military, as well as brazen threats to lawfully operating oil and gas assets offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block. 

The government’s rejection of these aggressive acts follows Venezuela’s latest intimidatory move which came over the weekend when it illegally approached ExxonMobil-operated FPSOs and falsely communicated that they were operating in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Venezuela. 

The Guyana Government has recorded a number of these aggressive actions which it says not only threatens the sovereignty and integrity of Guyana, but the peace and stability of Latin American neighbours as well as the Caribbean. 

Guyana in a statement noted that in recent times, Venezuela has resorted to a series of aggressive actions in the Guyana/ Venezuela border region. 

These include Venezuela’s public announcement that it will hold elections in Guyana’s sovereign territory, on 25 May 2025, for election of a governor and legislative council for the “Guayana Esequiba State”, the name Venezuela has given to Guyana’s Essequibo Region, which it purported to “annex” in 2024.

The Bolivarian Republic has so far deployed armoured personnel carriers, battle tanks, and patrol boats to Ankoko—the island through which the international boundary between Venezuela and Guyana passes. The eastern portion of the land which belongs to Guyana was seized by Venezuela in 1966, and now, there has been an exponential increase in the presence of Venezuelan troops along the border.

Compounding this threat, Venezuela has constructed a bridge connecting the Venezuelan mainland to Guyana’s part of Ankoko Island. The government is concerned that the completion of this bridge in December 2024, significantly bolstered Venezuela’s military capabilities, enhancing their offensive strategies.

Guyana registered its exclusive right as the only State entitled to administer and exercise control over the Essequibo region pending the final Judgment by the International Court as it also enjoys the right to administer and exercise control over the adjacent maritime areas. 

At around 7:00hours March 1, 2025, the Venezuelan Naval Vessel ABV Guaiqueiri PO-11-IMO 469552 sailed approximately 700 metres into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone near its FPSOs and accused ship captains of operating in an unauthorised maritime space.

Guyana’s government is adamant that all activities which the government authorised in its Exclusive Economic Zone “are entirely within the maritime areas appurtenant to the sovereign coastal territory of Guyana, as defined by the Arbitral Award of 1899, which established the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela”.

In keeping with well-established principles of international law in respect of this maritime area, Guyana enjoys sovereignty up to 12 nautical miles in the territorial sea, and sovereign rights beyond 12 nautical miles in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.

“This latest action by the Government of Venezuela has done nothing but pose a threat to the peace, good order and security of the sovereign territory of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the stability of the Latin American and Caribbean region.”

Guyana views Venezuela’s continued aggression as highly provocative, and is gravely concerned by the persistence of the Nicholas Maduro-led administration to encroach on the country’s land and maritime space.

Guyana has reminded the Venezuelan Government of its international obligations under general international law, the United Nations Charter and the Order issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023, which states Guyana’s control over the  area, and the commitment of both countries to refrain from any action that would intensify the situation.

Guyana has since brought Venezuela’s actions to the attention of its international and regional partners who have all registered their resounding support for Guyana.