Caracas, 2 June 2024 – “The sun of Venezuela rises in theEssequibo!”. The announcement is one of those that risks triggering unbridled reactions not only in the dispute between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, but also for the political situation of a continent, South America, which has always been accustomed to internal shocks. There vexed question It dates back to colonial period when the entire region was part of the General Captaincy of Venezuela, but the dominion of Caracas was not exercised actively also because the now disputed region was inaccessible and with a limited population: forests and forests, nothing too interesting. Then with the progression of the centuries and the various occupations, Venezuela remembered the Essequibo, whose borders had been drawn in favor of Guyana: the discovery of hydrocarbons both in the interior and in the waters of its jurisdiction has triggered a series of claims that with the Chavista government of Nicolas Maduroeven more decisive than his legendary predecessor, has implemented a real policy of annexation of the territory considered an integral part of Venezuela included in the macroregion of Venezuelan Guyana, which includes three of the federal states: Bolivar, Delta Amacuro and Amazonas; the fourth, in the Caudillo’s idea, is precisely the Essequibo.
From here the unilateral referendum which decreed – in a very undemocratic way – that “Essequibo is to all intents and purposes the twenty-fourth federal state of Venezuela”. In reality the borders requested by Venezuela are not recognized by anyone, much less by UN, Dare (Organization of American States) and Caricom (the Caribbean Community) who only hope that the conflict does not explode.
Brazil’s intervention
He is afraid of a war Brazila strategic power in the region also because one of its states, the Roraima, borders both Venezuela and Guyana. And so does the president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has sent troops and equipment to avoid trespassing and keep the situation under control, also committing to organize a conference between the countries to determine a peaceful resolution of the dispute. On the other hand, Brazil has already had to drive back to Venezuelaright from Roraima, hundreds of thousands of would-be refugees fleeing poverty who reigns in Maduro’s country.
The richness of the Essequibo subsoil
But what makes Essequibo so attractive? Certainly not 160 thousand square kilometers of forests with a population of less than 100 thousand inhabitants, but what lies beneath the ground: oil, gold, various other precious minerals; hydrocarbons are also present under the sea and Venezuelan warships have tried to limit the waters where they are found. What infuriated Maduro were the concessions given unilaterally by Georgetown President Irfaan Ali, at Exxonthe American company that can exclusively exploit the deposits already discovered and those in the process of being identified.
The annexation of Venezuela
Hence Maduro’s move, first with a referendum with five questions in which over 10 million Venezuelans voted 95% for the annexation of Guyana Essequiba to Caracas and now with the promulgation of a decree in which he recognizes the Essequibo as The twenty-fourth federal state placing the temporary capital on the border, in the city of San Martin de Turumban (in the State of Bolivar), entrusting the outpost to General Domingo Hernandez Larez who has already given orders to build a bridge over the Yuruan River. “We are not the aggressors, but the American oil lords conniving with the Georgetown government,” declared the Foreign Minister of Caracas, Yvan Gil. “We will not stop, the people are with us,” recalls Maduro. A regional war is possible, which is why Brazil will do everything to stop it.
