Maduro Warns CARICOM over SouthCom’s Provocations in Guyana

On Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to remain vigilant regarding provocations from the U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) in Guyana.

“The President of Guyana is meeting with SouthCom authorities. They think they can intimidate Venezuela,” he said.

“I call on CARICOM and its prime ministers to stay alert to the actions of what used to be the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” Maduro added, suggesting that Guyana has abandoned its status as a sovereign nation to become a colony of transnational oil corporations.

“ExxonMobil runs Guyana. And that is shameful for the dignity of Caribbean peoples. Furthermore, they are trying to set up U.S. military bases in our Guayana Esequiba,” the Bolivarian leader stated.

Previously, Venezuela had reminded CARICOM that Guyana is pursuing militaristic actions driven by alliances with SouthCom, ExxonMobil, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Venezuelan authorities also expressed that these actions not only “aim at preparing aggression” against the South American country but also represent a violation of the agreements set in the Argyle Joint Declaration for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela signed on Dec. 14, 2023.

On Tuesday, Venezuela commemorated the first anniversary of the referendum held on December 3, 2023, through which citizens expressed support for the defense of the Esequibo.

The Bolivarian nation claims this 160,000-square-kilometer territory as part of its historical heritage, pointing out that it was “illegally usurped by imperial powers,” as Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil reiterated.

“Today, the sovereignty of Guayana Esequiba continues to be violated by corporations serving imperialist nations, which are attempting to resume the colonisation of our Americas,” he added. (telSUR)