After the Referendum, Venezuela orders the immediate exploration of oil resources in the area disputed with Guyana. The antechamber of the military clash
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the immediate start of exploration and exploitation of oil reserves in the Essequibo region, the disputed territory that Venezuelans voted to annex.
As reported by the AP , President Maduro declared that he would “grant operating licenses for the exploration and exploitation of oil, gas and mines in the entire area of our Essequibo”.
He also issued an order for the creation of local subsidiaries of the state oil and mining companies, PDVSA and Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana.
The Venezuelan Parliament has not yet approved a law establishing Venezuela's jurisdiction over the Essequibo region, which represents two-thirds of Guyana's territory and where its oil riches are concentrated, but, given the government's tight control over the assembly, It seems like a formality.
Guyana has refused to accept the results of the Venezuelan referendum, saying it was an attempt to annex most of its territory, even after the International Court of Justice ruled that Essequibo is part of Guyana. The Venezuelan government has said it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice over the matter.
Essequibo was part of Venezuela during its colonial period, but at the end of the 19th century an international arbitration awarded the territory to Guyana, then a British colony. Venezuela never accepted the arbitration decision, but for most of the time since it was made it has not acted on its grievances.
After last weekend's referendum, Guyana said it will ask the UN Security Council for help if Venezuela takes further steps to establish control over the Essequibo region.
The attorney general of the former British colony told AFP that "any action or attempted action following the referendum will require recourse to the United Nations Security Council as an aggrieved party."
While Maduro yesterday announced the establishment of a Comprehensive Defense Operational Zone for the Essequibo region, Guyana's Attorney General stated that "in military terms, the United Nations Security Council can authorize the use of armed forces by Member States to assist in the application of the law”.
Brazilian Guaicuru armored vehicle from IVECO, part of the Brazilian armored component
For a week now, Brazil has been strengthening its military presence on Venezuela's borders, sending troops to the capital of Roaraima, Boa Vista, the state bordering Venezuela. For now it is only an armored brigade, about six hundred men who will increase their control activities on the border.
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The article After the Referendum, Venezuela orders the immediate exploration of oil resources in the area disputed with Guyana. The antechamber of the military clash comes from Economic Scenarios .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/dopo-il-referendum-il-venezuela-ordina-limmediata-esplorazione-delle-risorse-petrolifere-nellarea-contesa-con-la-guyana-lanticamera-dello-scontro-militare/ on Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:00:04 +0000.