The Guyanese government has sounded the alarm to the international community after a Venezuelan military vessel entered its waters on Saturday morning, threatening oil production operations in the region.
President Irfaan Ali, in a national address, described the latest development as a “matter of grave concern,” emphasizing Guyana’s commitment to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty amid escalating tensions with its western neighbor.
According to official reports, a Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel was observed near Guyana’s offshore oil production assets, including the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Prosperity. The Venezuelan patrol ship reportedly transmitted a radio message to the FPSO, claiming that it was operating in “disputed international waters” before moving in a southwesterly direction toward other oil facilities.
“This morning, Saturday, 1st March 2025, at approximately 7:00 AM, a Venezuelan armed patrol ship entered Guyana’s waters,” President Ali stated. “During this incursion, the Venezuelan vessel approached various assets in our exclusive waters, including FPSO Prosperity. Our assets are operating lawfully within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Let me be unequivocal—Guyana’s maritime boundaries are recognized under international law, and this incursion is a matter of grave concern.”
The latest incursion marks the second time in two weeks that Guyana has had to report Venezuela’s aggressive actions. Just days earlier, six Guyanese soldiers patrolling the Cuyuni River, which marks part of the border between the two countries, were shot and injured by armed individuals believed to be part of a Venezuelan criminal gang.
Venezuela has long laid claim to Guyana’s resource-rich Essequibo region, despite an internationally recognized 1899 ruling that settled the territorial dispute. Guyana has since taken the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to secure a final legal resolution.
With tensions mounting, the Guyanese government has reassured its citizens and international partners that it remains committed to diplomacy while actively addressing the situation. “We are not acting precipitously,” President Ali affirmed. “We are addressing this situation with the seriousness and responsibility that it requires.”
As the geopolitical stakes rise, the region watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution while Guyana asserts its sovereignty against increasing Venezuelan pressures
