Venezuela Accuses New Oil Ship in Disputed Essequibo Waters, UK-Guyana Military Cooperation: Tension Rises
Rewritten Article:
Hail from Caracas, a buzzing city on April 17, 2025. Here's the lowdown on the latest escalation in the age-old dispute over the Essequibo Strip between Venezuela and Guyana, a drama that unfolds against the backdrop of valuable resources and tensed military maneuvers.
Last week, tensions rose yet again as the Venezuelan administration lodged a strong objection to the arrival of the FPSO One Guyana, a vessel that pumps, stores, and offloads oil and gas. Word on the street is that this platform has joined three other FPSOs in the Stabroek Block, located roughly 200 kilometers offshore from the Essequibo region.
The roughly 26,800 square-kilometer Stabroek Block is believed to house nearly 11 billion barrels of oil and gas. With the new FPSO, operated by US corporation ExxonMobil, oil output is expected to surge beyond 250,000 barrels per day, potentially boosting daily production to a whopping 900,000 bpd.
In a recent statement, the Venezuelan government voiced its disapproval of the oil drilling operations in the disputed waters. The statement read, "This maneuver, driven by the Guyana government in league with ExxonMobil, breaches fundamental principles of international law, which discourage unilateral actions in contested areas without agreed-upon delimitation."
The statement further warned that Caracas will not recognize any oil concessions granted in the region and urged the involved companies to prepare for potential legal action. The Venezuelan government also accused Guyana of jeopardizing regional peace and stability and flouting the 2023 Argyle Agreement, a pact intended to ease dialogue channels between the two nations.
On the flip side, Guyana asserts that the Essequibo region is part of its maritime territory, while Venezuela stakes its claim over the undelimited waters. The 19th-century controversy over the 160,000 square-kilometer Essequibo region ignited anew in 2015, following the discovery of massive offshore oil deposits by ExxonMobil in the disputed territorial waters. The company plans to extract up to 1.2 million barrels per day by 2027.
Venezuela insists that the 1966 Geneva Agreement is the only means to settle the border controversy, while Guyana looks to uphold an 1899 ruling that granted the territory to its former colonial power, the United Kingdom. In 2018, Guyana requested the intervention of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, Caracas has consistently refused to recognize The Hague's jurisdiction over the Essequibo controversy.
Last week, Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV) announced Admiral Neil Villamizar as its candidate for governor of the proposed Guayana Esequiba state, alongside candidates for national deputies and state-level councillors in the May 25 elections. Guyana has cautioned that residents who participate in the Venezuelan election could be charged with treason.
Skirmishes along the Essequibo border and escalating military threats have intensified the territorial dispute. Last Saturday, Caracas denounced a defense cooperation agreement between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence.
"We denounce the warmongering intentions of President Irfaan Ali, the 'Caribbean Zelensky,'" stated Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, referring to the roles played by the UK and the US in the 1899 ruling. Rodríguez urged regional governments to pay attention to the new "warmongering drums," reaffirming that Venezuela will defend its territorial integrity under any circumstances.
The UK-Guyana enhanced military partnership follows rising US-backed militarization in the region, particularly through joint military drills between Guyanese forces and the US Southern Command. During a recent visit to Georgetown, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela against interfering with ExxonMobil's operations in the region, suggesting potential military action if a confrontation ensues.
Washington stands by ExxonMobil's ventures in the Essequibo region and has strengthened its diplomatic ties with Guyanese authorities.
Pen down by Cira Pascual Marquina, a wordsmith reporting from Caracas.
- Despite the objections from Venezuela, ExxonMobil, a US corporation, agreed to operate the FPSO One Guyana in the Stabroek Block, which is estimated to have nearly 11 billion barrels of oil and gas, near the Essequibo region.
- The sports sector might not be immune to the ongoing tension, as Guyana has warned that residents who participate in Venezuela's elections could be charged with treason, potentially affecting cross-border sports activities in the Essequibo region.
- In an effort to boost the region's stability, the United Kingdom has strengthened its military partnership with Guyana, a move condemned by Venezuela as a warmongering intention, echoing the concerns expressed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding potential military action if a confrontation arises.
