British warship to be despatched to Guyana for Christmas amid border dispute

The Royal Navy will scramble to deploy a naval ship off Guyana later this month, the ministry of defence mentioned right now, because the South American nation faces a border dispute with neighbour Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo area.

HMS Trent – a vessel used for ‘defence diplomacy’, based on the federal government – will participate in joint workout routines with Guyana after Christmas.

The deployment follows a go to by Foreign Office minister David Rutley to Guyana earlier this month, meant to supply the UK’s assist for the nation, an ally and former British colony.

He reiterated sovereign borders ‘have to be revered’ and that the UK would work internationally ‘to make sure the territorial integrity of Guyana is upheld’. 

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson mentioned: ‘HMS Trent will go to regional ally and Commonwealth companion Guyana later this month as a part of a sequence of engagements within the area throughout her Atlantic patrol activity deployment.’ 

Guyana and Venezuela agreed earlier this month to keep away from any use of pressure and to not escalate tensions within the long-running dispute.

HMS Trent – a vessel used for ‘defence diplomacy’, based on the federal government – will participate in joint workout routines with Guyana later this month

Venezuelan troops in several fatigues and carrying numerous weapons in Caracas, Venezuela (File Photo)

The vessel is in Barbados over Christmas and can then head to waters off the mainland of Guyana, based on reviews.

The ship just isn’t anticipated to dock in Georgetown, its capital, as a result of the port is just too shallow, the BBC mentioned.

The broadcaster mentioned it was meant as ‘a present of diplomatic and army assist for the previous British colony’.

The 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) Essequibo area is mostly recognised as a part of Guyana, however in recent times Venezuela has revived its declare to the territory and to offshore areas after main oil and fuel discoveries.

The dispute dates again to the late nineteenth century, when Guyana was nonetheless a British colony.

Guyana and Venezuela agreed earlier this month to keep away from any use of pressure and to not escalate tensions within the long-running dispute. Pictured Guyana (File Photo)

Venezuelan troops are seen mobilised within the border area, standing behind a map exhibiting the Guyanese territory annexed to Venezuela

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks in the course of the notification ceremony for the referendum about the way forward for a disputed territory with Guyana, in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 4, 2023

Venezuela earlier this month printed a brand new map exhibiting Esequiba underneath Venezuelan management

Venezuela has lengthy claimed Essequibo, which makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, and has ratcheted up its rhetoric over it in latest months. 

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s authorities held a controversial referendum on December 3 by which 95 per cent of voters, based on officers within the hard-line leftist authorities, supported declaring the nation the rightful proprietor of Essequibo.

He has since began authorized manoeuvres to create a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and ordered the state oil firm to situation licenses for extracting crude within the area.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has branded the strikes a ‘grave menace to worldwide peace and safety’.