Venezuela accuses UK of 'provocation'
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, in a post on his X social media account, reacted to the UK's announcement that it would send a warship to the disputed Esequibo region between Venezuela and its neighbor Guyana.
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Accusing the UK of "engaging in provocation in the region," Lopez stated, "We are on high alert in the face of this provocation that endangers the peace and stability of the Caribbean and the South American region.
So I ask here, what happened to the commitment to good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence? What happened to the agreement not to threaten or use force against each other under any circumstances?" he said.
Lopez stated that they consider the Esequibo region an "inseparable" part of Venezuela and that they will take all necessary measures in the face of potential situations.
The UK is preparing to send a warship to its former colony, Guyana, for "military and diplomatic" support.
It is alleged that this ship will conduct activities in the disputed Esequibo region between Venezuela and Guyana.
THEY AGREED NOT TO USE FORCE
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali met on December 14 in the Caribbean island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Guyana and Venezuela had agreed "not to use force" to resolve the tension in the oil-rich disputed Esequibo region.
Following a referendum held in Venezuela that resulted in the claim that the Esequibo region belongs to the country, the Venezuelan administration had taken action and threatened to take control of the region, which corresponds to approximately three-quarters of Guyana.
POSSESSES RICH OIL RESERVES
The Esequibo region dispute between Venezuela and Guyana dates back to the period before Guyana's independence.
During the period when Guyana was a British colony, the Esequibo River was determined as Guyana's western border according to the 1899 border arbitration decision.
However, Guyana, which gained its independence in 1966 and joined the British Commonwealth in 1970, did not recognize this border and declared that Esequibo belonged to it.
Currently, the region known as the Esequibo region or Guyana Esequiba is located west of the Esequibo River, which is in the middle of Guyana, and in the north of the country.
Esequibo, which has a surface area of approximately 160 thousand square kilometers and a population of nearly 125 thousand, is known for having gold, coal, and precious stones in addition to rich oil reserves.