<
https://theconversation.com/why-venezuela-is-threatening-to-annex-guyanas-oil-rich-province-of-essequibo-219352>
"The US air force has taken the unusual step of holding joint drills with
Guyana as the United Nations scheduled an emergency meeting of the security
council to discuss Venezuela’s threat to annex more than two-thirds of the
oil-rich South American country.
Guyanese president, Irfaan Ali, appealed to Washington and to the UN after the
Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, announced that he had taken steps to
formalise the incorporation of Essequibo – an oil-rich 160,000sq km region of
neighbouring Guyana – as part of Venezuela.
Maduro is a populist nationalist and a dictator, whose country is wracked by
poverty. This has contributed to the exodus of more than seven million
citizens. Mindful of the fact that presidential elections are due in Venezuela
in 2024, Maduro has turned to an issue that he hopes will lead to a rapid
turn-around in his popularity.
Venezuela’s territorial dispute with neighbouring Guyana is a longstanding one.
It is arguably made worse by the news that there might be oil and gas potential
in Essequibo – not just on land but also under the seabed.
In 2015, Maduro issued a decree reiterating Venezuela’s claim and repudiated
any plans to exploit resources in Guyana’s territorial sea and exclusive
economic zone. Most recently, he has been seen on national television holding a
revised map of Venezuela, depicting a country that now includes about 70% of
Guyana."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
