WASHINGTON, DC – TENSIONS between Guyana and Venezuela have escalated further following the presence of a Venezuelan warship in Guyana’s Stabroek Block. In response, the Organization of American States (OAS) has strongly condemned the action.
The presence of the warship this morning (Mar. 1) caused confusion, prompting Georgetown to alert its allies, including the OAS.
In a media statement, the General Secretariat of the OAS declared that it "unequivocally condemns the recent actions of Venezuelan naval vessels threatening ExxonMobil’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units operating within Guyana’s internationally recognized maritime territory.”
The OAS described Venezuela’s actions as a “clear violation of international law,” stating that they undermine regional stability and threaten the principles of peaceful coexistence between nations.
“The OAS reiterates its steadfast support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Venezuelan regime must immediately cease all aggressive maneuvers that could escalate tensions in the region,” the statement added.
This development comes after the Trump administration reaffirmed U.S. support for Guyana. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently reiterated this stance, which drew criticism from Caracas. Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil, lashed out at the U.S. support, stating:
“Now, [Rubio] seeks to support the fantasies of the Guyanese government, which aims to strip us of the historic rights bequeathed to us by our liberators,” he was quoted as saying by Telesur.
Meanwhile, the OAS General Secretariat urged Venezuela to respect the ongoing international legal proceedings, including the adjudication of the territorial dispute before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“Any attempt to use coercion or force to alter established borders is unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental principles of the OAS Charter and international law in general,” the OAS stated.
The Guyanese government is expected to formally notify the ICJ of this latest escalation between the two nations.
