3rd of May, 2025. Guyana, South America. GSA News. Guyana News.
Last updated: May 3, 2025 at 20:42 pm
As Venezuela gears up to hold an election to select a governor of their newly demarcated state of “Guayana Esequiba,” which includes the disputed Essequibo territory of Guyana, the government of Guyana quickly pressured the International Court of Justice to block the move. The ICJ quickly responded, reinforcing provisional measures against Venezuela and deeming such action to be illegal and a breach of international laws and treaties.
The Venezuelan government responded to the ICJ’s provisional measures by saying that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction over the matter and that they are going ahead with their election scheduled for the 25th of May, 2025. Minister of Defense, Vladimir Lopez Padrino, and Vice President Delcy Rodriques both reaffirmed this position, with Padrino suggesting that military action might be needed to enforce the annexation of the Essequibo.
Venezuelan Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, suggested on Live TV that Venezuela is planning a military operation to “recover” the Essequibo. He sarcastically questions what US President Donald Trump will do. “What will Trump do when it’s little time, will he come to war? Will he go to war supporting Guyana? I tell you the following, and I tell you as the Minister of Defense, the march that we have to reclaim our Essequibo territory has no retreat,” he said in a televised address to the nation of Venezuela.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his visit to Guyana a few months ago that if Venezuela dares invade the Essequibo there will be dire consequences for Venezuela, suggesting that such action might trigger a direct US military response. Rubio was quoted as saying that “it will be a very bad day, and a very bad week, for Venezuela” if they trespass into Guyanese territory. Other top US officials such as the US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, have also voiced strong support for Guyana, suggesting that the US stands ready to confront Venezuela in the event of an incursion.
In early March, 2025, the Venezuelan military tested the waters by sending their navy ships into Guyanese waters near to EXXONMOBIL FPSOs and telling the workers on board that they need to withdraw because they are operating in “waters pending delimitation.” The United States responded by sending US Navy Vessels to patrol the waters and conduct military exercises with Guyana shortly afterwards.
President Ali and Vice President Dr. Jagdeo have both assured the people of Guyana that the government is on top of things and that Guyana’s “strategic military partners” stand ready to defend Guyana. These assurances however have been met with widespread skepticism from the Guyanese population since, to the best of public knowledge, there are no concrete defense pacts signed with any ally. Meanwhile, the country of Guyana is split in two on whether Venezuela is just bluffing or will actually make good on their threats. About 50% of the people seem to believe that it will never escalate into a war and the other 50% consider it a real and present danger to varying degrees.
