Venezuela's Aggressive Actions in Guyana: Land Disputes and Resource Exploitation

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the creation of a new state called "Guayana Esequiba" following a controversial referendum in which Venezuelan voters approved the annexation of land from neighboring Guyana. The disputed territory, the oil-rich Essequibo region, amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana's national territory. Guyana has called the move an "existential threat." Maduro also signed a decree creating the "High Commission for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba" and announced measures including the approval of oil, gas, and mining exploration licenses. The US State Department urged a peaceful resolution of the border dispute, emphasizing that the 1899 ruling should be respected.