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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Gunfire and gold: How Venezuela is using criminal gangs in border conflict with Guyana
A burst of gunfire shattered the stillness along the Cuyuní River when soldiers from the Guyana Defense Force came under attack while navigating a remote jungle waterway near the settlement of Eteringbang — deep within the mineral-rich Essequibo region, a territory claimed by both Guyana and Venezuela. The ambush, launched on May 13 from the Venezuelan side of the border, was the first of three coordinated attacks over a 24-hour period. Guyanese troops returned fire and withdrew without casualties. But the rapid succession of assaults has fueled mounting fears that the regime of Nicolás Maduro is using criminal proxies to destabilize the long-disputed region. Analysts and Guyanese officials increasingly see the attacks not as isolated gang violence, but as part of a broader, state-sanctioned campaign. A newly released report by InSight Crime argues that Venezuela is forging a dangerous alliance between organized crime and political ambition to assert control over the Essequibo. 'Maduro has long used allied criminal groups, with whom he operates symbiotically under his hybrid state, to achieve his goals,' the report states. These groups, it adds, 'with strong connections to Venezuela's government and a shared interest in profitable gold mining, could have significant incentives to back Maduro's claim to Essequibo.' As the international community monitors the escalating tensions, the Essequibo conflict is fast emerging as South America's next major flashpoint. The volatile mix of gold, guns, and geopolitics presents not only a test of Guyana's resilience — but a challenge to regional stability. The stakes are high. The Florida-sized Essequibo region covers nearly two-thirds of Guyana's territory and holds vast reserves of oil, gold and other minerals. Venezuela has long claimed the land as its own, despite a 1899 international arbitration award that recognized it as part of Guyana. While Venezuela's long-standing claim to the mineral-rich Essequibo dates back more than 180 years, the dispute has intensified in light of rising gold prices and Maduro's use of nationalist rhetoric to bolster support amid domestic issues and international sanctions. In December 2023, Maduro held a national referendum seeking public approval to use military force to seize the region. His government claimed 98% support, despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Also stoking tensions is ExxonMobil's offshore drilling in waters claimed by both nations. In February, a Venezuelan warship entered the disputed maritime zone, threatening the oil giant's operations. The U.S. responded swiftly, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio issuing a stark warning. 'It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they attacked Guyana or ExxonMobil,' Rubio said. 'We have a large navy, and it can reach almost anywhere in the world. And we have ongoing commitments to Guyana.' Reacting to U.S. commitments to side with Guyana in the event of an armed conflict, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has accused the Trump administration of plotting to overthrow Maduro to seize the Essequibo. During a recent televised speech, Padrino called the territory a 'spoil of war' for American interests. In a symbolic but provocative move, Venezuela held regional elections on May 25 to name a governor for 'Guayana Esequiba,' Caracas' term for the disputed territory. Though voting occurred solely within Venezuelan borders, the act was a clear assertion of sovereignty. The elected governor, Admiral Neil Villamizar, vowed to extend administrative oversight to the disputed region — and quickly received Maduro's endorsement. Beneath the political theatrics lies a more troubling trend: the quiet incursion of Venezuelan criminal organizations — known locally as sindicatos — into Guyanese territory. These groups, which have long operated with impunity in Venezuela's Bolívar state on the Guyanese border, are now establishing illegal checkpoints along the Cuyuní River, extorting money from miners and traders and asserting control in areas with minimal government presence. Among the most prominent groups are Organización R — a mining syndicate with diminishing political clout in Caracas — and the Claritas Sindicato, reportedly linked to the powerful Tren de Aragua gang. Authorities have also reported sightings of ELN guerrillas, a Colombian-Venezuelan insurgent faction, operating near key Guyanese border towns. The criminal infiltration is not new. Since the creation in 2016 of the Orinoco Mining Arc — a huge area in Venezuela set apart by the regime for mining operations — illegal mining and organized crime have flourished in the southern part of the country, often with military protection. These groups control mining, smuggling routes, taxation systems, and even forced labor in Bolívar state. Now, their model appears to be expanding across the border into Essequibo. Guyanese officials say cross-border incursions have surged since 2022, with some frontier zones effectively under the control of foreign criminal networks. The consequences stretch beyond security. Gold smuggling is on the rise, fueling concerns over laundering and evasion of international sanctions. Though Guyana is a legal gold exporter, official production has declined even as suspicions of illicit shipments grow. In 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Mohamed's Enterprise — one of Guyana's largest gold firms — for allegedly bribing customs officials and failing to report exports. While Venezuelan gold wasn't explicitly cited, reporting by Reuters and InfoAmazonia suggests the company may have laundered smuggled Venezuelan gold through Guyana and into international markets, including Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. 'There's no way to distinguish gold from Guyana and Venezuela once it's refined,' said Guyana Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat. 'That's the real challenge.' As Venezuela's economy withers and Maduro's legitimacy erodes after contested 2024 elections, the Essequibo dispute has become a political pressure valve. By stirring nationalist fervor and outsourcing conflict to criminal networks, Maduro avoids direct military confrontation — while escalating pressure on Guyana. Guyana's military, with just over 4,000 troops, is stretched thin across a dense jungle frontier spanning more than 160,000 square kilometers. Once a natural boundary, the Cuyuní River has become a contested corridor patrolled by syndicates armed with assault rifles. With a ruling on the border dispute from the International Court of Justice is expected later this year, the situation is reaching a critical juncture. What began as a legal dispute over colonial maps is now unfolding in riverside ambushes, illicit checkpoints and territorial extortion.
Politico
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The fall of the Floridians
Good morning and happy Friday. President DONALD TRUMP seems to have a Florida-sized personnel issue. This week, former Fox News contributor JANETTE NESHEIWAT became the latest Trump appointee to have her nomination pulled. She had been poised to appear before a Senate committee Thursday to answer questions about her qualifications to be the next surgeon general, but scrutiny surfaced about her medical education. Nesheiwat joins a growing list of Floridians who've gotten tripped up in their Trump administration journey: Former Reps. MATT GAETZ, MIKE WALTZ (who has found himself prepping for a new role) and DAVE WELDON, as well as Hillsborough County Sheriff CHAD CHRONISTER. Part of it is a game of odds. So many of Trump's picks have been from Florida, thus naturally the chance that a few Floridians might hit a snag is high. Top Floridians including chief of staff SUSIE WILES, deputy chief of staff JASON BLAIR and Attorney General PAM BONDI are all safely ensconced in the Trump administration. And Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO has done so well that he has taken on numerous other roles. But there is still somewhat of a Sunshine State pattern. Gaetz was the first to go after he couldn't get enough support in the Senate to become attorney general, in part because of investigations into sexual misconduct (which he denied). Trump said he pulled Chronister's nomination to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration because of restrictions on churches that had once been in place in the Tampa area during Covid. Weldon's anti-vaccine comments were too much for many senators in his push to head up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Waltz is still in the mix, having gotten bumped from his job as national security adviser — but now he has to go through a bruising confirmation process to become the next US ambassador to the United Nations. (Note: His wife, JULIA NESHEIWAT, is Janette Nesheiwat's sister.) Asked about the trend, Miami filmmaker BILLY CORBEN called Floridians 'consummate hustlers' and likened the administration to 'The Apprentice,' adding, 'Florida men and Florida women are going to get hired and fired on a whim.' 'When you roll around in the swamp, you get mud on you,' he quipped. 'This seems to be a case of the best of the worst or even the worst around here. And when in doubt: Just give Marco Rubio another job.' Florida GOP operative JAMIE MILLER says today's partisan environment and narrow Senate majority makes it difficult for nominees to skate by without significant criticism in general. 'It's a rough gauntlet to navigate,' he said. Some of it may also be a culture clash. Miller said Floridians tend to be more 'laissez-faire' and 'brutally honest' — that 'what you see is what you get.' BRETT DOSTER, a Tallahassee-based GOP consultant who worked on former Gov. JEB BUSH's gubernatorial run and as senior adviser in Florida to MITT ROMNEY's 2012 presidential campaign, said he thinks Florida's political style is just too much for many in Washington to handle. 'The Florida freedom fighters brand scares the DC establishment to death,' he said. 'Too conservative and too dismissive of the status quo. Just can't get along with the K Street cocktail circuit.' WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is doing a roundtable in Jacksonville at 10 a.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... EXECUTION METHODS RECONFIGURED — 'Serial killer Glen Rogers, set to die next week, is claiming that Florida can't execute him using the state's default method, lethal injection, because his rare blood disorder would cause 'needless pain and suffering,'' reports Liv Caputo of The Floridian. But his upcoming execution could be complicated by the passage of a bill 'allowing death row inmates to be executed by firing squad, hanging, or any new method lawmakers can think of — as long as it's not unconstitutional.' SETTLEMENT REACHED — 'Nearly two years after Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, state officials have agreed to pay $40,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by one of Worrell's former employees, records obtained by News 6 show,' reports Mike DeForest. — 'Florida GOP divide on taxes, budget could make for long, hot summer at Capitol,' by John Kennedy of USA Today Network — Florida. PENINSULA AND BEYOND FIU PRESIDENT FINALIST — 'Florida International University named former Lt. Gov. and current interim leader Jeanette Nuñez the sole finalist to serve as the school's president Thursday after a weekslong search in which other candidates never were publicly revealed,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'Nuñez has been leading the Miami school — her alma mater — since February and now will stay on as president for the long haul, as was widely expected when she left the DeSantis administration. FIU's search committee claimed to have produced two finalists alongside Nuñez, both of whom were said to be high-ranking university officials elsewhere who opted to withdraw before becoming public.' SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN — 'Santa Ono sees the potential to make University of Florida the nation's very best public university,' Samuel Dodge reports for MLive. 'Ono announced his intention on May 4 to step down as University of Michigan president to take the same job in Florida. He published a letter Thursday in Inside Higher Education explaining his choice.' 'The May 8 letter 'Why I Chose University of Florida' details Ono's vision to focus his next presidency on instilling an emphasis on merit, ensuring peaceful protest and shifting how to promote diversity.' HOW BUDGETS AND PROPERTY TAXES INTERTWINE — 'Central Florida county budgets have ballooned since 2020, fueled partly by rising property tax collections that have pumped billions more dollars into municipal accounts,' reports Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel. 'In Orange County, the annual spending plan grew by $1.7 billion in the last five years, with property tax collections up by about 40 percent, according to an Orlando Sentinel analysis. The four other largest local budgets in Central Florida swelled by at least $100 million in that time period.' NEW MAGISTRATE — 'When South Florida lawyer Detra Shaw-Wilder was nominated last year as a federal judge, her career appeared to be reaching new heights. But her nomination by a Democratic president withered away as Florida's two Republican senators blocked it amid a divisive presidential election campaign,' reports Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald. 'Shaw-Wilder, however, survived the setback and will soon be joining the federal bench as a magistrate judge in the Southern District of Florida.' — 'Daring rescue or political fiction? Caracas mocks U.S. narrative about embassy operation,' reports Antonio Maria Delgado of the Miami Herald. — 'How can a product be imported tariff-free to Miami without entering the U.S.? Welcome to the FTZ,' by WLRN's Tom Hudson. — 'FAMU alumni, community express anger, flex muscle in ongoing presidential search,' by Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat. — 'Florida political leaders praise selection of first American Pope, Leo XIV,' by Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. FLORIDA CONNECTION — 'Pope Leo XIV, now the Holy Father of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, has close ties to Southwest Florida. … His brother, Louis Prevost, lives in Port Charlotte,' reports the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. CAMPAIGN MODE LEADERSHIP BLUE DEETS — The Florida Leadership Blue Gala is set for Saturday, June 21, and its featured speakers include Sen. CORY BOOKER (D-N.J.) — who got plaudits from fellow Democrats for his record-breaking filibuster in April — and Kentucky Gov. ANDY BESHEAR, someone who can speak to winning red states as a Democrat and is exploring a run for president in 2028. The event is taking place at the Seminole Hardrock in Hollywood. (More details.) TOMORROW — Sen. CHRIS MURPHY (D-Conn.) and Rep. MAXWELL FROST (D-Fla.) will host a town-hall meeting in Sarasota — in a district represented by Rep. GREG STEUBE (R-Fla.) — 'as part of a campaign of Democrats holding events in Republican-held congressional districts,' reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. 'The Sarasota Democratic Party notes in a statement that Steube voted for a budget resolution earlier this year that could potentially make deep cuts to Medicaid' and said 'If Steube won't meet with his constituents to explain his vote, Murphy and Frost will.'' GOV RACE — 'Among potential GOP candidates for Florida governor in 2026, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds leads First Lady Casey DeSantis by 19 percentage points, 44 percent–25 percent, according to a new statewide poll of registered voters by a conservative Tallahassee-based think tank,' reports Jim Rosica of USA Today Network — Florida. 'CRONY CAPITALISM' — 'Trump is promising that his economic agenda will empower American consumers and unlock growth. One of the GOP's biggest voices is warning that it's an insider's game,' reports POLITICO's Sam Sutton. ''Tariffs open the doors to crony capitalism. The government starts to pick winners and losers,' Citadel founder Ken Griffin told POLITICO at the Beverly Hilton during the Milken Institute's Global Conference. 'I thought that would play out over the course of years. It's terrifying to watch this play out over the course of weeks.'' HEATING UP — 'Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe announced her campaign for Orange County Mayor on Thursday,' reports McKenna Schueler of Orlando Weekly. 'Uribe, representing a sprawling district covering neighborhoods south of downtown and in the Curry Ford District, is the third candidate so far to publicly toss her hat into the ring. Her announcement comes after those of Tiffany Moore-Russell, who currently serves as Orange County Clerk, and local tech entrepreneur Christopher Messina, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2022.' DATELINE D.C. RIGHT BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON — 'The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was fired Thursday morning, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation,' reports E&E News by POLITICO's Thomas Frank. 'Cameron Hamilton, FEMA's acting administrator, has told people that he was terminated, leaving the nation's disaster agency without a top official three weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season and as Congress scrutinizes FEMA's proposed budget for fiscal 2026.' A WHOLE NEW GULF — After the House passed a resolution that would rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Rep. JIMMY PATRONIS invited Trump to his district to do a ribbon-cutting ceremony that would be part of a 'BIG celebration' for the occasion. — 'Florida lawmakers push bipartisan bill to keep Venezuelan immigrants from being deported,' reports Sergio R. Bustos of WLRN. — 'Trump ramps up plans for 2026 World Cup amid friction with neighbors: 'Tensions are a good thing,'' by POLITICO's Sophia Cai, Myah Ward and Tim Röhn. — 'DeSantis wants state control of Everglades restoration. Elon Musk could help him get it,' by NOTUS' Claire Heddles. — 'Gun violence prevention group in Miami loses its federal funding,' by Raisa Habersham of the Miami Herald. TRANSITION TIME — JACKIE LLANOS of the Florida Phoenix will be joining NOTUS as a fellow covering Congress. — Trump nominated JOHN 'JACK' HEEKIN, Sen. RICK SCOTT's deputy chief of staff and general counsel, to be the next U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida, reports Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN GRAND OPENING — Biometric ID company and financial network World launched its first East Coast location in Florida on Thursday. The hub is in the growing Wynwood neighborhood of Miami and lets visitors check out technology that verifies people's 'humanness.' The company is best-known for its Orb devices, which scan people's eyeballs to verify them as human and not a bot. Tools for Humanity Chief Product Officer TIAGO SADA called the Miami location an 'obvious choice' because the 'city has a unique international and cultural footprint' and 'Miami's tech community thriving.' The group provided polling showing that most Floridians want better online verification tools, are concerned about AI-generated misinformation online and want more biometric tools that also protect privacy. BIRTHDAYS: Bill Herrle, NFIB's executive director in Florida … journalist Renzo Downey. … (Saturday) Stephen M. Ross, principal owner of the Miami Dolphins … E.W. Scripps Company reporter Forrest Saunders … USA Today's Zac Anderson … (Sunday) state Rep. John Paul Temple.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Venezuelan military resurfaces fears of a U.S. invasion over dispute with Guyana
In a move reflecting Caracas' long-standing fears of foreign intervention, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accused the United States of conspiring to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro to gain control over the resource-rich Essequibo region, a territory long disputed between Venezuela and Guyana. Speaking during a televised address on Tuesday, Padrino López claimed that plotters aim to turn the Florida-sized Essequibo into a 'spoil of war' for U.S. interests, using regime change as leverage. 'The threat constantly evolves, but one thing remains unchanged: the conspiracy to surrender our homeland,' he said during a graduation ceremony at the Bolivarian National Guard command. 'They want to convert the Essequibo into a spoil of war — part of a plot to deliver our territory in exchange for regime change imposed by U.S. imperialism.' Earlier this month, the Venezuelan military raised its alert level, citing an alleged U.S. plot to fabricate an incident involving an ExxonMobil offshore platform in contested waters, potentially justifying military intervention. The Defense Ministry issued a statement accusing foreign actors of seeking to provoke conflict in the long-contested region, which has been administered by Guyana since an 1899 arbitration ruling — a decision Venezuela has never recognized. On the eve of the ministry's announcement, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez echoed these allegations, accusing the United States, the Guyanese government, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and Blackwater founder Erik Prince of conspiring to launch a military operation against Venezuela. Rodríguez claimed the plan included a 'false flag' attack on the ExxonMobil platform. 'This plot is intended to stage an attack on an ExxonMobil platform operating in the yet-to-be-demarcated Essequibo waters, providing justification for hostile actions against our country,' Rodríguez said during a televised speech. Tensions over the ExxonMobil site escalated in late February, when a Venezuelan warship entered the disputed area, triggering a warning from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded firmly during a recent visit to Georgetown. 'It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they attacked Guyana or ExxonMobil,' Rubio said. 'We have a large navy, and it can reach almost anywhere in the world. We are committed to Guyana.' The Essequibo border dispute, which dates back more than 180 years, has significantly intensified in recent months. In December 2023, President Maduro held a controversial referendum that claimed 98% public support for asserting sovereignty over the region — a vote widely criticized for alleged fraud and lack of transparency. Since then, Maduro has doubled down, declaring Essequibo a new Venezuelan state, bolstering military presence near the border, and planning regional elections to install a local governor — moves condemned by the international community.
Miami Herald
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Venezuelan military resurfaces fears of a U.S. invasion over dispute with Guyana
In a move reflecting Caracas' long-standing fears of foreign intervention, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accused the United States of conspiring to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro to gain control over the resource-rich Essequibo region, a territory long disputed between Venezuela and Guyana. Speaking during a televised address on Tuesday, Padrino López claimed that plotters aim to turn the Florida-sized Essequibo into a 'spoil of war' for U.S. interests, using regime change as leverage. 'The threat constantly evolves, but one thing remains unchanged: the conspiracy to surrender our homeland,' he said during a graduation ceremony at the Bolivarian National Guard command. 'They want to convert the Essequibo into a spoil of war — part of a plot to deliver our territory in exchange for regime change imposed by U.S. imperialism.' Earlier this month, the Venezuelan military raised its alert level, citing an alleged U.S. plot to fabricate an incident involving an ExxonMobil offshore platform in contested waters, potentially justifying military intervention. The Defense Ministry issued a statement accusing foreign actors of seeking to provoke conflict in the long-contested region, which has been administered by Guyana since an 1899 arbitration ruling — a decision Venezuela has never recognized. On the eve of the ministry's announcement, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez echoed these allegations, accusing the United States, the Guyanese government, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and Blackwater founder Erik Prince of conspiring to launch a military operation against Venezuela. Rodríguez claimed the plan included a 'false flag' attack on the ExxonMobil platform. 'This plot is intended to stage an attack on an ExxonMobil platform operating in the yet-to-be-demarcated Essequibo waters, providing justification for hostile actions against our country,' Rodríguez said during a televised speech. Tensions over the ExxonMobil site escalated in late February, when a Venezuelan warship entered the disputed area, triggering a warning from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded firmly during a recent visit to Georgetown. 'It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they attacked Guyana or ExxonMobil,' Rubio said. 'We have a large navy, and it can reach almost anywhere in the world. We are committed to Guyana.' The Essequibo border dispute, which dates back more than 180 years, has significantly intensified in recent months. In December 2023, President Maduro held a controversial referendum that claimed 98% public support for asserting sovereignty over the region — a vote widely criticized for alleged fraud and lack of transparency. Since then, Maduro has doubled down, declaring Essequibo a new Venezuelan state, bolstering military presence near the border, and planning regional elections to install a local governor — moves condemned by the international community.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘It would not end well': Rubio warns Venezuela against military action in Guyana
Emphasizing the global reach of the U.S. Navy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stark warning Thursday to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, cautioning against any military aggression toward Guyana. Speaking alongside Guyanese President Irfaan Ali at a press conference in the capital of Georgetown, Rubio made it clear that Washington stands firmly behind its regional ally. 'It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they attacked Guyana or ExxonMobil,' Rubio stated. 'We have a large navy, and it can reach almost anywhere in the world. And we have ongoing commitments to Guyana.' Rubio's visit to Georgetown on Thursday was part of a broader Caribbean tour aimed at strengthening U.S. ties in the region. He reaffirmed Washington's support for Guyana's sovereignty over the Essequibo region, a Florida-sized resource-rich territory that has been under Guyanese control since 1899 but is claimed by Venezuela. Reacting from Venezuela, Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez said that it is Guyana and the United States who are paving the way to an armed conflict in the region. 'The Caribbean Zelensky,' a term used by the regime to describe Guayan President Ali, 'disdains holding talks… relying on warlike actions,' Rodríguez said through her Telegram account while accusing the president of Guyana of seeking Rubio out so they could threaten peace in the region. 'It must be made very clear, Venezuela will never give up its rights to Guyana Esequiba nor will it be intimidated by those enacting despicable acts against international law,' she added. The Venezuelan regime, which blames Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for causing the war in Ukraine, has been accusing Ali of behaving like him in its propaganda against Guyana. The reference appears to be aimed at the United States, following the tense meeting between the Ukrainian president and President Donald Trump earlier this month at the White House. Experts suspect that the Caracas regime deliberately moved towards escalating tensions with Guyana to trigger a shift in U.S. policy towards Venezuela. The border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela dates back more than 180 years but has sharply escalated in recent months. In December 2023, Maduro held a referendum seeking public approval to use military force to seize the Essequibo. His government claimed a 98% approval rate, despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Since then, Maduro has repeatedly vowed on state television that Venezuela will not abandon its claim. His regime has since declared Essequibo as Venezuela's newest state despite international objections, increased his country's military presence near the border and announced plans to hold elections in the Essequibo region to install a governor. Tensions reached a boiling point four weeks ago when a Venezuelan warship entered disputed waters, threatening ExxonMobil's offshore operations in Guyana's exclusive economic zone. The incursion triggered an immediate response from Washington. 'Venezuelan naval vessels threatening ExxonMobil's floating production, storage, and offloading unit is unacceptable and a clear violation of Guyana's internationally recognized maritime territory,' the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted on X. 'Further provocation will result in consequences for the Maduro regime. The United States reaffirms its support for Guyana's territorial integrity.' Rubio reinforced the message in Georgetown, dismissing Venezuela's claims as 'illegitimate territorial ambitions of a drug-trafficking regime.' He warned that aggressive actions would carry serious repercussions. 'I want to be frank,' he said. 'There will be consequences.'
