Guyana’s military reported three attacks by Venezuelan armed individuals in civilian clothing along the contested Cuyuni River this week, marking a dangerous escalation in the decades-old dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region.
No casualties were reported, but the Guyana Defence Force has intensified patrols ahead of Venezuela’s planned May 25 referendum to assert sovereignty over the territory.
The clashes occur despite a binding International Court of Justice order barring Venezuela from unilateral actions in Essequibo, which constitutes 66% of Guyana’s landmass and houses ExxonMobil’s 11-billion-barrel Stabroek Block.
This marks the first direct clashes since satellite imagery in February 2024 revealed Caracas’ military buildup near the oil-rich region. The buildup includes tanks and Iranian-made missile patrol boats, contradicting diplomatic pledges.
Washington has warned of “severe consequences” for any aggression toward Guyana or ExxonMobil, while US oil firms face a May 27 deadline to exit Venezuela. Chevron and others are lobbying the Trump administration to preserve joint ventures with Venezuela’s PDVSA, even as the first post-sanctions Venezuelan crude cargo reached US shores Thursday.
The attacks underscore Venezuela’s dual strategy of military posturing and economic opportunism. By timing provocations near critical oil assets and the US sanctions deadline, Caracas pressures Guyana while testing Washington’s resolve.
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