A BRITISH warship has arrived in Guyana sparking further tensions with Venezuela.

The two neighbouring countries have been locked in a growing border dispute over the oil-rich territory of Essequibo – which has been controlled by Guyana for over a century. 

The arrival of the British ship has fuelled further tensions with Venezuela, who insist they will continue to deploy nearly 6,000 troops until the ship leaves the region. 

According to the Associated Press, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino shared a video on X, where he appeared surrounded by military officers in front of a marked up map of Venezuela and Guyana, and said the forces are  “safeguarding our national sovereignty.”

“Armed forces have been deployed not just in the east of the country, but across the entire territory,” he said.

“They will be there until this British imperialist boat leaves the disputed waters between Venezuela and Guyana.”

Reports say that the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent, was already in the Caribbean.

HMS Trent is expected to take part in joint exercises with Guyana, The Guardian reported.

Tensions

Tensions have increased after officials in Venezuela said that more than 95 per cent of voters in a recent referendum, backed the idea of establishing a new Venezuelan state in Essequibo. 

Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has always emphasised that “Essequibo belongs to Guyana.”

In December, a UK minister called for Guyana’s claims to the oil-rich territory of Essequibo to be respected.

There has been an attempt by St Vincent’s Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to help resolve the dispute. He invited both presidents of Guyana and Venezuela, to meet with other CARICOM leaders in December in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Following the meeting, Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro agreed not to use force to deal with the dispute.

Oil discovery

Essequibo makes up two thirds of the total land area of Guyana.

US oil giant ExxonMobil found more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources there in 2015. It is estimated, the oil and mineral-rich area is home to 125,000 of Guyana’s 800,000 citizens.

Essequibo has been administered by Guyana for over 100 years after a decision in 1899 by an international tribunal granted it to Britain, who had colonial rule over the territory at the time. The area was previously known British Guiana. 

However, Venezuela has always argued the decision was unfair and say Essequibo belongs to them since it gained independence from Spain in 1811.

Essequibo is generally recognised as part of Guyana, but in recent years Venezuela has revived its claim to the territory and to offshore areas after major oil and gas discoveries.