Guyana will not allow Venezuela to threaten sovereignty, territorial integrity – President Ali says

Mar 02, 2025 News

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…garners international support against Venezuelan incursion at Stabroek Block

Kaieteur News- Guyana on Saturday made it clear that it will not allow Venezuela nor its president Nicholas Maduro to threaten its sovereignty or territorial integrity amid an incursion of the country’s Stabroek Block located offshore.

An armed Venezuelan patrol ship, Guaiquerí (PO 11), illegally entered Guyana’s shores around 07:00h on Saturday, threatening ExxonMobil Guyana’s Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Liza Prosperity, President Irfaan Ali said during a live statement from State House.

“The (Venezuelan) patrol Vessel transmitted a radio message declaring what it termed “disputed international waters” before continuing its course in a south Westerly direction towards other FPSOs,” President Ali said while making it clear that all of Guyana’s assets and the FPSO are lawfully operating within Guyana’s own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“Let me be unequivocal, Guyana’s Maritime boundaries are recognised under international [law] and this incursion is a matter of grave concern,” President Ali added.

The Stabroek Block is being operated by U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil Guyana and its partners and contains approximately 11.6B barrels of oil.

President Ali made it clear that his government is addressing the situation with seriousness and has already summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Perez, to protest this latest act of aggression. A formal protest will also be made in Caracas by Guyana’s Embassy there.

Guyana has also informed its partners, the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Regional Security System (RSS), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and they have all responded positively, assured President Ali.

“And we continue to work with other neighbours, Brazil, at the military level and at the level of the State,” the president stated.

President Ali made it clear that Guyana is firmly committed to the rule of international law, to peaceful resolution of controversies, and to the power of diplomacy.

“But, make no mistake of it: fortified by the strong voices and resolute support of our international partners, Guyana will not allow Maduro and Venezuela to threaten or violate our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he stated.

The head-of-state said Guyana appreciates “greatly the international solidarity and unwavering support that have been extended to us by our international partners on this matter.”

“We will remain in close contact with our partners in protecting Guyana’s interests and maintaining peace in our Region,” President Ali said.

Meanwhile, he said that the Chair of CARICOM, Mia Amor Motley, is being actively engaged along with St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves who served in part as the intermediary for the signing of the Argyle Agreement.

“I have already spoken to the Leader of the Opposition (Aubrey Norton) and briefed him on the initial circumstances. Later today, as we have greater details, the Leader of the Opposition and I will be meeting so that he can be fully briefed and updated on this matter,” Ali said.

Guyana also plans to inform the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the incident, along with the Secretary General of United Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS) member states.

GDF deploys assets

Meanwhile, Guyana has since deployed air assets in its EEZ following the Venezuelan incursion in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guards will also be deployed, and the National Defence Board has been meeting periodically on the matter.

In a statement, the GDF said it has observed the presence of the Venezuelan vessel in the EEZ and “remains vigilant in monitoring all activities within our maritime domain and reiterates its commitment to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.”

Further, the GDF said its security protocol remains in place as “we continue to coordinate, mobilize and deploy the relevant resources to ensure a measured and appropriate response to developments in our waters.”

“The GDF, in collaboration with our partners, continues to assess the security implications of this development and remains proactive in maintaining the stability of our maritime space,” the statement said as GDF assured that Guyana’s security and well-being “remain our utmost priority”.

“We reaffirm our dedication to the defence of Guyana’s air, land and sea domain,” the Force said.

Venezuela’s latest act of aggression comes just days after the Donald Trump administration cancelled a Biden-era licence that had allowed U.S. company Chevron to sell hydrocarbon products from its operations in Venezuela.

Guyana and Venezuela are presently before the ICJ in a territorial controversy over the mineral-rich Essequibo, an area that is almost two-thirds of the country.

Meanwhile, in a statement of its own, Venezuela has called for the immediate convening of the Argyle Agreement mechanism for a path of peaceful settlement of the controversy. However, despite its call for peace, Venezuela continues to falsely and illegally claim sovereignty over the Essequibo.

(Guyana will not allow Venezuela to threaten sovereignty, territorial integrity – President Ali says)

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• Exclusive Economic Zone, Floating Production Storage Offloading, President Ali, United Kingdom

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