Guyana VP: We will not take military action against Caracas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Dec 2023 12:39

The statement follows Venezuelan concerns raised by the recent deployment of a UK warship near the Guyanese coast.

Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Progressive People's Party headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana, Thursday, April 20, 2023 (AP)

Amid escalating tensions surrounding the longstanding territorial dispute over the Essequibo region, Guyana's Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, reassured the international community that the country has no intentions of pursuing offensive actions against Venezuela.

On Sunday, the British Ministry of Defense revealed that Britain decided to dispatch a naval ship, the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Trent, to the waters coasting Guayana following tensions between the Commonwealth state and Venezuela over the Essequibo lands.

"HMS Trent will visit regional ally and Commonwealth partner Guyana later this month as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic Patrol Task deployment," a spokesperson said.

Last week, reports from UK media indicated that the naval patrol ship would be deployed by the United Kingdom to demonstrate solidarity with its former colony, Guyana, in the face of the territorial dispute with Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro responded by instructing his armed forces to undertake "defensive actions."

Vice-President Jagdeo addressed the issue during a People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) news conference, stating, "We don't have any plan to take offensive action against Venezuela." He clarified that the military activities in Guyana were routine, long-planned, and aimed at building a defensive capability for the nation.

Ship deployment violates 'spirit' of agreement with Guyana

Earlier yesterday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro described the deployment of a British warship to seas off the coast of Guyana as violating the "spirit" of an agreement signed between Venezuelan and Guyanese authorities.

On December 15, Guyana and Venezuela agreed to avert the use of force and threats to settle the disputed Essequibo territory to resolve matters of conflict within international law, such as the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

"Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a published statement.