Venezuela is sending troops to its border with Guyana in an escalation of tensions over Guyana's recent oil boom
Venezuela is sending troops to its border with Guyana in an escalation of tensions over Guyana’s recent oil boom, according to reports citing satellite images and videos posted by Venezuela’s military. Venezuela is attempting to annex an area known as Essequibo, in which Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in December said he would “grant operating licenses for the exploration and exploitation of oil, gas, and mines.
A written agreement was penned in December between the two that denounced the use of force, instead calling for a commission to address the disputes. “We are not surprised by the bad faith of Venezuela,” Guyana’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal regarding the military action. “We are disappointed, not surprised.” Venezuela has said that it is boosting its defenses in response to U.S.