Guyana Claims Soldiers Were Attacked Three Times In Region Disputed With Venezuela

Guyanese troops said they were attacked on three different occasions in an area the country controls but claimed as its own by Venezuela, which says will hold elections there this month.

Concretely, the Guyana Defense Force (GDF)said that armed men in civilian clothing conducted the attacks on troops patrolling the Cuyuni region in the Essequibo region.

In a statement, the GDF said forces “executed a measure response” every time, and that no soldiers were injured in the attacks. It added, however, that it will “continue to respond to acts of aggression along the Guyana-Venezuela border,” according to AFP.

The incident comes just days before Venezuela conducts gubernatorial elections. Scheduled for Sunday, the authoritarian government of Nicolas Maduro said the Essequibo will be included in the elections. The vote would go against an order from the UN’s top court not to hold a vote there.

The Essequibo represents two thirds of Guyana’s territory but Venezuela claims it as its own. Venezuela has brought its claim to the forefront of regional diplomacy since holding a referendum in 2023 (approved by an overwhelming majority) to take over the territory and create a Venezuelan province there. It has also accused the Georgetown government of “defying and provoking” Caracas by granting concessions to exploit the areas natural resources, particularly oil.

The Venezuelan army also said in April that it raised its alert level after uncovering a U.S. plot seeking to fabricate an incident to create a justification to invade the South American country.

Concretely, the document said the operation would take place at an ExxonMobil offshore platform and would develop in the Essequibo region, an area controlled by Guyana that Venezuela claims as its own.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez added that “these false incidents are part of a longstanding imperial playbook used to manipulate public opinion and justify unwarranted interventions.”

The claims took place shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the region and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Guyana’s security. Concretely, Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance security cooperation between the two nations during a visit to Georgetown.

Venezuelan troops have also built a makeshift bridge over the Cuyuni River and deployed armored vehicles there. Caracas also deployed armored vehicles, including Scorpion-90 light tanks, V-100 armored vehicles used for transporting troops, 8×8 tactical trucks as well as supply vehicles to the Anonko island.