Venezuela holds military exercise in response to UK warship ‘threat’

CMC – President Nicolas Maduro says more than 5,000 troops participated in a “defensive” exercise on Thursday as Venezuela reacted to the decision by Britain to send a warship to participate in a military exercise off Guyana waters.

Maduro said he has launched a joint action of a defensive nature “in response to Britain’s provocation and threat against the peace and sovereignty of our country”.

Maduro’s television broadcast was accompanied by video showing fighter jets taking part in the Venezuelan exercise, as well as ships and ocean patrol vessels.

Venezuela has insisted that the ownership of the Essequibo region, which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana and is home to 125,000 of the country’s 800,000 citizens, will be resolved directly between Caracas and Georgetown.

Venezuela also called on Guyana authorities to take immediate action for the withdrawal of the HMS Trent, a vessel from the British Navy, and to refrain from continuing to involve military powers in the territorial controversy.

Venezuela says it rejects the arrival of the HMS Trent to the coasts of Guyana, which it says “becomes an act of hostile provocation and a violation of the recent Argyle Declaration, that was agreed during talks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines earlier this month between President Maduro and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali”.

Caracas said “it also warns the members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that these actions are contrary to the spirit of peace and understanding with which Venezuela attended the December 14 meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to which we must return immediately and continue on the path of direct dialogue between the parties.”

A British Ministry of Defence spokesman said that “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.”

On Thursday, President Ali said Venezuela has no need to fear any aggression from Guyana, as the country pursues bonafide partnerships with foreign partners.

Ali reiterated that Guyana has no ambitions or intentions to covet any other country’s territory.

“We are fully committed to peaceful relations with our neighbours and all countries in our region. Guyana remains fully steadfast in promoting and advancing peace whilst pursuing national development.”

“Guyana has long been engaged in partnerships with regional and international states aimed at enhancing internal security. These partnerships pose a threat to no one and are in no way intended to be aggressive or constitute an offensive act against any State,” Ali said, offering his best wishes to the people of Venezuela.