As tensions continue to heighten over a long-standing border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, urgent talks are being planned for this week in another bid to defuse the situation.
Venezuela recently ramped up the pressure for its claim to two-thirds of Guyana including the now oil-rich Essequibo region. The country’s leader Nicolas Maduro carried out a referendum at the beginning of this month in which he claims voters overwhelmingly backed his stance - despite unverified reports that the turnout was very low.
Brazil has stepped into the picture hoping to play a peacemaker role in what threatens to plunge the South American region into military conflict.
Guyana has put its military on high alert, but the country’s forces are dwarfed by the size and resources of Venezuela’s military. Meanwhile, Brazil has said that it’s reinforcing its presence on its border with the two countries.
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali said he is seeking the intervention of the United Nations Security Council saying: “This is a direct threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence. Guyana views this as an imminent threat... and will intensify precautionary measures to safeguard its territory.”
Guyana borders both Brazil and Venezuela, and the Venezuelan claim dates back to the late 1800s when the British government of the day was embroiled in a border dispute with Venezuela for its colony then known as British Guiana. That dispute has dragged on despite several treaties down through the years, and has continued since Guyana gained independence from Britain in 1966.
Guyana has always rejected Venezuela’s claim to its territory which in recent years has seen an explosion of investment following huge oil discoveries led by the American Exxon corporation. This is already in the process of massively transforming Guyana’s economy with the potential of making it among the richest countries in the Americas.
On the other hand, despite having the largest oil reserves in the world, Venezuela is one of the poorest countries globally with the country mired in economic stagnation.
The United States has thrown its support behind Guyana in the dispute while urging a peaceful resolution.
Both leaders - Guyana’s Irfaan Ali and Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro - have sent signals that they could be prepared to meet possibly as early as this week.
However, a statement from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry insisted on what it referred to as its “historical position on the unquestionable sovereign rights of Venezuela” over the Essequibo region.
There were hopes that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva might mediate in the talks which could possibly be held in St Vincent and the Grenadines this week.
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