..US also criticizes Venezuela’s actions
WASHINGTON, DC – CARICOM and the United States have strongly condemned Venezuela’s recent military incursion into Guyana’s territorial waters.
On Saturday (Mar. 1), a Venezuelan military vessel was spotted near ExxonMobil’s operations within the Stabroek Block, where floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) platforms are stationed in Guyana’s maritime territory.
In a statement, CARICOM denounced the incident as an “act of aggression and provocation”, asserting that it violates international law and the 2023 Argyle Declaration.
“This provocative incident of 1 March 2025 initiated by Venezuela runs counter to the agreed commitment of CARICOM and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to ensure that the Caribbean region remains a Zone of Peace. It is critical that there be a peaceful resolution of the border controversy as is expected under the International Court of Justice, which already has conduct over the dispute,” CARICOM stated.
The regional body urged Venezuela to immediately withdraw its vessel from Guyanese waters and to cease any engagement with FPSO platforms, as reports indicate such interactions have occurred.
The US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs also issued a warning, cautioning that further escalation could have consequences for the Maduro administration.
“Venezuelan naval vessels threatening ExxonMobil’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit is unacceptable and a clear violation of Guyana’s internationally-recognized maritime territory,” the department stated in a social media post.
This latest incident follows an attack at the contested border, where several Guyana Defence Force personnel were shot and injured by known individuals within Venezuelan territory. Officials in Caracas have since announced the arrest of those responsible.
Venezuela and Guyana have long been at odds over the Essequibo region, a resource-rich area that constitutes two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. The dispute is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has urged both nations to avoid escalating tensions as they await a final ruling.
