Leaders of Guyana and Venezuela to Hold Face-to-Face Meeting in Effort to Resolve Territorial Dispute

The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela are set to meet in an attempt to defuse a long-standing territorial dispute over the Essequibo region. The dispute escalated after Venezuelans voted in a referendum to claim two-thirds of Guyana's territory. Regional partners have pushed for the meeting, which will be attended by prime ministers from Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The tensions have led to both countries putting their militaries on alert, and Venezuela ordering state-owned companies to explore and exploit the oil, gas, and minerals in the disputed region. The outcome of the meeting and the resolution of the border controversy remain uncertain.