Tensions between Venezuela and Guyana have escalated as ExxonMobil announced plans to explore for oil and gas off the coast of the disputed Essequibo region, despite previous expulsions of U.S. oil companies by the Venezuelan military. Venezuela has rejected statements by ExxonMobil CEO Alistair Routledge, accusing the company of undermining Guyana's sovereignty and supporting the International Court of Justice's involvement, which Venezuela deems illegitimate. Venezuela's executive Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino have both condemned ExxonMobil's actions, with Padrino rejecting the drilling plans and pledging a 'forceful' response. Satellite images and reports from The Wall Street Journal confirm that Venezuela has moved military hardware, including light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats, and armored carriers, to the border with Guyana. This military build-up violates a December agreement to not make threats and has raised concerns among shipping risk analysts and international policymakers, including the Biden administration, which is considering increasing defensive cooperation with Guyana. The Maduro government's actions are seen as an attempt to leverage Guyana's newfound energy wealth, while ExxonMobil maintains that its new drilling will occur well south of the disputed territory.
🇻🇪🇬🇾🚨‼️ "Venezuela draws military to Guyana-Essequibo border" – The Wall Street Journal The publication reports that satellite images show the presence of light tanks, missile patrol boats and armored personnel carriers on the borders of the disputed territory. 📝 “We are not… https://t.co/26RMJPLrpl
Venezuela Deploys Military to Oil-Rich Guyana’s Border The Maduro government is ratcheting up his leverage over Guyana to get access to its newfound energy wealth https://t.co/hNAzEeVwAX
Venezuela building up troops on Guyana border, satellite images show https://t.co/ewtmvnXift
NEW: Venezuela is backing up its threats to annex part of Guyana and secure access to some of the world’s largest oil finds in more than a decade by moving light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats and armored carriers to the two countries’ border in what is quickly turning into…
"Venezuela is backing up its threats to annex part of Guyana...by moving light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats and armored carriers to the two countries’ border" - WSJ https://t.co/bw6q3NsaG6
Exxon Says New Drilling Is ‘Well South’ of Disputed Essequibo Territory Venezuelan military buildup is underway near the border: WSJ Exxon’s massive Guyana crude discoveries transformed nation #oott #Guyana #Venezuela https://t.co/hgktRTMsoa
Exxon’s exploratory drilling off the coast of Guyana will be "well south" of the disputed territory that Venezuela claims as its own, a company executive said https://t.co/wlRP6jPt93
Venezuelan authorities are increasing their armed forces on the Guyana-Essequibo border, The Wall Street Journal reports. As the publication points out, Venezuela is pulling “light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats and armored personnel carriers” to the border, which is… https://t.co/kM2GsZpm4G
Venezuela is backing up its threats to annex an oil-rich part of Guyana by moving light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats and armored carriers to the two countries’ border https://t.co/cBrfs8tNtG via @WSJ
#Venezuela is increasing its military presence on the border with Guyana – The Wall Street Journal The Venezuelan army is deploying light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats, and armored personnel carriers to the Guyana-Essequibo region. This development follows Venezuela's… https://t.co/GWr5bjRtrP
#Venezuela's threats to annex part of oil-rich #Guyana led shipping risk analysts at Lloyd’s in London to put Guyana on list of areas affected by war, piracy and terrorism, same risk level as Houthi-ravaged Red Sea & Black Sea routes imperiled by Russia. https://t.co/iGnEdD6CCH
Venezuela Deploys Tanks, Armored Carriers To Guyana Border https://t.co/QCrU1RueiR
In Maduro's threats against Guyana @SerbinPont sees a parallel with Argentina’s failed 1982 Falklands invasion, where a desperate junta sought to distract from economic troubles. Venezuela’s economy has contracted 70% and 7.7 million people have fled. https://t.co/f3zQgudwsz @WSJ
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, using satellite images provided by Maxar, found that in late 2023 and Jan. Venezuela moved armored vehicles and what appear to be light tanks to Anacoco Island on the Cuyuni River just yards from Guyana. https://t.co/zO7e8i2qmC
Maduro’s military deployments to Guyana's border has alarmed policymakers in the Biden administration, which is stretched thin containing Russia, Iran, etc. U.S. officials have been talking to the Guyanese about increasing defensive cooperation. https://t.co/QwgtR23FBE via @WSJ
.@wsj: Venezuela Deploys Military to Oil-Rich Guyana’s Border. The Maduro government is ratcheting up his leverage over Guyana to get access to its newfound energy wealth https://t.co/wlBn0QvsHB
#Venezuela Deploys Military to Oil-Rich #Guyana’s Border The Maduro government is ratcheting up his leverage over Guyana to get access to its newfound energy wealth #oott https://t.co/fZ624S3fWS
Venezuela is backing up its threats to annex an oil-rich part of Guyana by moving light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats and armored carriers to the two countries’ border https://t.co/yukybKzaEi https://t.co/yukybKzaEi
Venezuela's deployment to Guyana, visible in satellite images provided by @CSIS and in videos posted by Venezuela’s military on social media, indicates an escalation in Maduro's attempts to obtain some leverage over its neighbor’s newfound energy reserves. https://t.co/6R34Vm9feR
❖ Satellite Images Show Venezuela Moving Military Hardware to Guyana Border -- WSJ ❖ Venezuelan Tanks and Armored Carriers Now Positioned at Island Near Guyana -- WSJ ❖ Venezuela Has Been Threatening to Annex Resource-Rich Areas in Guyana -- WSJ
#Venezuela Pledges Forceful Response to Exxon in Disputed Zone Defense minister Vladimir Padrino rejected drilling plans on X Comment follows both countries pledging to lower tensions #oott https://t.co/4jbD7FXnwr
#Venezuela is threatening to use force against US major ExxonMobil over planned offshore #Guyana drilling, violating an agreement reached in December to not make such threats. #oott https://t.co/I6pxYIDNq3
Venezuela said it would respond in a “forceful” way to Exxon’s plans to drill in the disputed Essequibo region off the coast of Guyana. https://t.co/PGm3TERmgL
#FromTheSouth News Bits | In Venezuela, the executive Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez rejected the statements made by the president of ExxonMobil, assuring that the transnational is subrogating the sovereignty of the cooperative republic of Guyana. https://t.co/9SznNRmnOA
#Venezuela vows 'forceful' response if oil drilling begins in disputed zone #oott #Guyana https://t.co/FygIQ25Ksg
Venezuela rejects threatening statements by Exxon Mobil CEO Alistair Routledge. This energy transnational not only assumes the sovereignty of Guyana, governs the high authorities of that country, encourages the illegitimate path of the International Court of Justice to the… https://t.co/05qaCXh2IO
ExxonMobil said it plans to explore for oil and gas in a disputed area off South America’s coast where the Venezuelan military had previously expelled two U.S. oil companies. The move could escalate tensions between Venezuela and neighboring Guyana. https://t.co/YAvPM5tFXN
#Guyana: Exxon to Drill Near Region Disputed by Venezuela, Official Says Regional president tells local media plans are moving ahead Venezuela says it holds historical claim over region #oott https://t.co/l1NyWbtQ7p
⚠️ VENEZUELA TO BEGIN 20-DAY MAINTENANCE AT SMALLEST REFINERY - OIL MINISTER (Reuters) Venezuela has received all the parts it needs to begin a maintenance program at the 146,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) El Palito refinery, with work expected to take about 20 days, oil minister… https://t.co/wSrgFKCxkM