Guyana Seeks International Support Amid Venezuela's Renewed Claims on Disputed Territory
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Guyana's president says his country is taking steps to defend itself against Venezuela's claims to the Essequibo region. This includes reaching out to allies that Guyana has defense agreements with.
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Venezuela has ordered its state-owned oil and mining companies to operate in the disputed Essequibo territory, defying international law.
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Guyana plans to bring up Venezuela's actions at the UN Security Council and has reached out to countries like the US, Brazil, and France as well as the UN Secretary General.
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Venezuela held a referendum backing its claim to Essequibo despite a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice barring action that could aggravate the dispute.
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The conflict centers on the oil-rich Essequibo region that Venezuela claims as its own from the colonial era but Guyana says was awarded to it by 19th century arbitrators.