BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has confirmed that its officers came under fire from armed men in Venezuela overnight. No injuries were reported.
In a statement to the media, the GDF said its troops were conducting a riverine patrol along the Cuyuni River, between Eteringbang and Makapa, when they were attacked on three separate occasions by armed men in civilian clothing on the Venezuelan side of the riverbank.
On each occasion, the GDF said it “executed a measured response, and no rank sustained any injuries”.
“The Force remains resolute in its mission to protect Guyana's territorial integrity and ensure the safety of its citizens," the statement continued. " It will continue to respond to acts of aggression along the Guyana-Venezuela border and will maintain regular patrols along the Cuyuni River."
A similar incident occurred several weeks ago, resulting in the arrest of several individuals by Venezuelan authorities.
These developments come amid rising tensions between the neighbouring countries over Guyana’s Essequibo region, which Venezuela continues to claim despite the border being settled more than a century ago. The dispute is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where both parties await a ruling. In the meantime, the Court has urged both sides to refrain from actions that could escalate the situation.
The matter was also raised during the recently concluded Twenty-eighth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), where regional foreign ministers called on Venezuela to comply with the Court’s provisional order.
The order, issued on December 1, 2023, reaffirms provisional measures aimed at preventing further conflict. The ministers urged Venezuela to “immediately and effectively implement” the ICJ’s directive.
Venezuela, however, appears to be moving in the opposite direction, as it prepares to hold elections in the disputed territory.
“The COFCOR reiterated its full support for the ongoing judicial process as the proper means of resolving the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela—peacefully, finally, and in accordance with international law,” the ministers stated. “They reaffirmed CARICOM’s firm and unwavering support for the maintenance and preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Tensions peaked in March when a Venezuelan military vessel was spotted in Guyanese territorial waters, allegedly intimidating ExxonMobil workers engaged in offshore drilling operations.
