Venezuelan President signs decrees to annex territory of neighboring Guyana

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has signed a series of decrees to annex part of the territory of neighboring Guyana that could lead to a war between the countries. He reported this on the social network X. It regards the Essequibo region, which is rich in oil and gas fields.

Maduro has signed six decrees that provide for the alleged accession of the region to Venezuela. The Venezuelan authorities have officially declared more than half of Guyana's territory its 24th state. Dictator Maduro also ordered the establishment of divisions of the PDVSA state-owned oil and natural gas company and the CVG metallurgical conglomerate in the region.

The territory claimed by Venezuela

In addition, a "new map" of Venezuela was approved, to which Essequibo was "joined" and the head of the region was appointed, Captain Alexis Rodriguez Cabello.

As previously reported, following the so-called "referendum" held last weekend by the government of Venezuelan dictator Maduro, the country officially announced the appropriation of part of Guyana's territory. Maduro authorized the exploration of minerals, including oil, in the area that is the subject of a dispute with Guyana. In addition, the dictator stated that he would give 3 months for oil companies to leave the area.

Venezuela reactivated its claim over the 160,000 square km territory in recent years, after the discovery of offshore oil and gas. The maritime border between the two countries is also in dispute.

Servicemen of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela. Photo from open sources.

The Maduro regime's plan is to potentially annex the region by granting Venezuelan citizenship to its population and conducting a military operation.

Amid potential escalation, neighboring Brazil has started to deploy military equipment and units to the borders with the countries.

More on the parties to the conflict, their armies, and the region can be found in the article "Venezuela and Guyana: Oil, Jungle, War"