Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro stirred up international tensions by ordering the creation of a new country and redefining territorial borders, including Guyana's land. This contentious move, announced on Tuesday, claims regions that Guyana has historically controlled, such as the Essequibo area, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of Guyana's landmass.
Maduro presented a "new map" during a meeting with lawmakers, promising to grant Venezuelan citizenship to inhabitants of the area and distribute the map to schools and public buildings across the country. Additionally, he signed a "Presidential Decree" to establish the "Guyana Essequiba Defense High Commission."
The Venezuelan government also announced plans to grant oil, gas, and mining exploration licenses in the contested areas, urging the national oil company PDVSA to form a specialized unit, "PDVSA-Essequibo." Maduro further banned businesses collaborating with Guyana on exploring oil and gas resources in the disputed waters and granted them a three-month evacuation period. The move also includes plans to conduct a population census within the region to facilitate the issuance of Venezuelan citizenship.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated that the U.S. continues to "pursue peaceful resolution" between Venezuela and Guyana, urging both parties to cease their hostilities and negotiate a solution. Guyana, while situated in South America and known for its sparse population and high poverty rate, has undergone rapid change since the 2015 discovery of oil through ExxonMobil in the Essequibo coast. The country's oil earnings exceeded $1 billion per year since then, financing numerous infrastructure projects.
Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo compared the situation to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, asserting that Maduro's moves contain similar authoritarian undertones and could potentially result in a larger-scale conflict. Maduro stands to gain significant political support from the referendum scheduled for December 3, giving him an edge in his upcoming reelection campaign.
Despite the threats, Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd stated that Guyana does not believe in "adventurism" and is committed to resolving the matter through diplomatic means. The International Court of Justice is currently addressing the dispute, but Venezuela has officially withdrawn from the ICJ's jurisdiction.
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