Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro Claims Guyana's Essequibo; Orders 'Immediate' Exploitation of Oil, Gas, Mines

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has escalated regional tensions by pushing forward with plans to assert control over Essequibo, an oil-rich region currently under the jurisdiction of neighboring Guyana, BBC noted.

Maduro's directives include instructing the state oil company to issue extraction licenses and proposing legislation in the National Assembly to formally annex the disputed area.

In response, Guyana has placed its defense forces on full alert, expressing grave concerns over the potential threat to its territorial integrity.

The move comes in the wake of a controversial referendum held on Sunday, where Venezuelan voters overwhelmingly supported claiming rights over Essequibo.

Guyana's President Irfaan Ali swiftly condemned Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's actions, addressing the nation on Facebook and seeking international intervention.

"This is a direct threat to Guyana's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence," President Ali stated, emphasizing the need for precautionary measures to safeguard Guyana's territory.

Brazil, in a corresponding move, announced the reinforcement of its military presence along the border with Guyana and Venezuela, deploying additional troops and armored vehicles.

Venezuela and Guyana Dispute Over Essequibo

The longstanding territorial dispute revolves around Venezuela's historical claim to Essequibo, contending that the Essequibo River serves as a natural border, according to Al Jazeera.

However, Guyana, which administers over two-thirds of Essequibo and houses a significant portion of its population, has held control since the territorial boundaries were established by an arbitration panel in 1899.

Venezuela's renewed efforts to assert dominance over Essequibo gained momentum in 2015, triggered by ExxonMobil's discovery of oil in commercial quantities off the Essequibo coast.

Maduro's recent actions followed a controversial referendum prompted by Guyana's oil block auctions in Essequibo, with Caracas asserting that 95% of Venezuelan voters favored annexing the territory.

Despite a warning from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against altering the status quo in the region, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro proposed legislation on Tuesday for the creation of a "Guyana Esequiba" province, further inflaming the situation.

Possible Outcome of Venezuela's Action

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's unilateral actions are likely to face staunch international resistance, especially considering the ongoing case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as per TIME.

The ICJ, which recently barred Venezuela from taking any action in the disputed region, may take years to reach a formal ruling on the matter.

Brazil, a key regional player, Celso Amorim, has expressed concerns about Venezuela's approach, urging the avoidance of force or threats over the border region.

"Now, there are new facts that are still more worrisome. We'll not fail to transmit our concerns, especially in relation to the policy of no use of force," Amorim said.

President Ali, in his address, assured investors that the situation would be reported to the ICJ and the UN Security Council, emphasizing the high alert status of the Guyana Defense Force and categorizing Venezuela's actions as those of an "outlaw nation."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Guyanese president speaks out after Venezuela makes claim on oil-rich region of his country - From CBS News