US warns Venezuela: Tensions rise over Guyana conflict
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has issued a warning to Venezuela against any aggression towards Guyana, leading to a robust rebuttal from Nicolás Maduro, who emphasised that Venezuela cannot be threatened.
Key points:
- Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, expressed concern over potential Venezuelan actions toward Guyana, especially regarding ExxonMobil's infrastructure.
- Nicolás Maduro strongly criticised Rubio, labelling him an "imbecile," and reinforced that Venezuela cannot be intimidated.
- Tensions between Venezuela and Guyana have escalated following allegations of Venezuelan coast guard incursions into Guyanese waters.
Marco Rubio shared his concerns on Thursday regarding potential Venezuelan actions against Guyana. During his visit to Guyana, Rubio emphasised that any attack on the country or on the infrastructure of the American corporation ExxonMobil, which is involved in oil extraction there, could result in severe repercussions for Nicolás Maduro's regime.
"It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil or anything," he said, "It would be a very bad day, a very bad week for them, and it would not end well for them."
Rubio, however, did not elaborate on the possible U.S. response. Since 2013, under Maduro's leadership, Venezuela has been accused by the opposition of electoral fraud in the presidential elections.
The President of Venezuela sharply responded to Rubio
In response to Rubio's remarks, Nicolás Maduro publicly criticised the U.S. Secretary of State on national television. "There goes the imbecile Marco Rubio threatening Venezuela from Guyana. No one threatens Venezuela because this is the homeland of the liberators," stated Maduro.
Tensions between Venezuela and Guyana heightened at the beginning of March when the Guyanese government accused the Venezuelan coast guard of intruding into Guyanese waters and attempting to disrupt oil extraction. Venezuela regards the disputed Essequibo territory as its own, with plans to establish a new state there and conduct gubernatorial elections in May.
