Guyana Accuses Venezuela Of Sending Naval Ship Near ExxonMobil Oil Facility

Guyana has accused Venezuela of sending a naval patrol ship into its maritime territory and approaching an ExxonMobil oil production facility.

The incident took place on Saturday in the Stabroek Block, a major offshore oil-producing area in the Atlantic Ocean. Guyana has summoned Venezuela’s ambassador and mobilised military assets in response.

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali stated that a Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel was seen operating within Guyana’s internationally recognised waters.

The patrol ship moved close to several oil production assets, including the Prosperity floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which produces around 222,000 barrels of oil per day.

The FPSO is part of ExxonMobil’s operations in the Stabroek Block, which is being developed in partnership with Hess Corporation and China’s CNOOC.

After the incident, Guyana deployed aircraft and coast guard patrols to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of oil infrastructure in the region.

President Ali described the Venezuelan activity as a serious violation of Guyana’s sovereignty.

“Guyana’s maritime boundaries are recognised under international law, and this incursion is a matter of grave concern,” he said in a televised statement.

Venezuelan officials denied any wrongdoing, claiming that their naval operations took place in waters that remain under dispute.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez dismissed Guyana’s accusations, calling them false. She also criticised ExxonMobil’s presence in the area, referring to its operations as “illegal.”

A statement from the Venezuelan government rejected the claims, asserting that the waters in question are “pending delimitation” under international law. The government accused President Ali of misrepresenting the situation and defended the actions of its navy.

Guyana has summoned Venezuela’s ambassador in Georgetown to lodge a formal protest and has reported the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Several International organisations and governments have supported Guyana. The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs strongly condemned Venezuela’s actions.

“Venezuelan navy vessels threatening ExxonMobil’s FPSO unit is unacceptable and a clear violation of Guyana’s maritime territory. Further provocation will result in consequences for the Maduro regime,” the department said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

The Organisation of American States (OAS) also criticised Venezuela’s actions, stating that Guyana’s territorial waters are internationally recognised.

Both countries are engaged in a long-running dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region. Essequibo covers about 70% of Guyana’s land and has been claimed by Venezuela for more than a century.

The dispute dates back to the late 1800s when an international boundary commission ruled in favour of Guyana (then British Guiana). Venezuela, however, has repeatedly contested this decision.

Tensions escalated in 2015 when ExxonMobil discovered large oil reserves offshore in the Stabroek Block. Since then, Venezuela has attempted to assert control over the region, issuing decrees and making territorial claims.

In January, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced plans to hold gubernatorial elections in Essequibo, despite an ICJ order from December 2023 that bans Venezuela from interfering in the region’s governance until a final ruling is made. A decision from the ICJ is expected next year.

Reference: AP News…

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