Guyana Enhances Security Amid Venezuelan Navy Incursion

Guyana has heightened its alert status following the entry of a Venezuelan navy ship into its exclusive economic zone. The government has mobilized air assets and the Coast Guard to protect national interests, with President Irfaan Ali confirming the legitimacy of Guyana’s maritime operations against Venezuelan claims.

Guyana is currently on high alert due to a recent incursion of a Venezuelan navy vessel into its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as reported by OilNOW. The government has responded by deploying air assets and mobilizing its Coast Guard to the affected region to safeguard national interests. President Irfaan Ali addressed the nation, confirming that the Venezuelan ship approached critical installations within Guyana’s EEZ, most notably the Prosperity floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel operated by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block.

In his address, President Ali specifically identified the Venezuelan naval vessel as the “ABF Wakari PO-11 IMO 4695542,” belonging to the Venezuelan Coast Guard. He emphasized that all operations conducted by Guyanese assets, including the FPSO Prosperity, are legitimate and lawful under the country’s exclusive economic zone. Furthermore, it was noted that the Venezuelan vessel attempted to communicate by asserting that the FPSO was operating in waters described as “undelimited.”,

In summary, Guyana has taken decisive measures in response to the Venezuelan navy’s incursion into its EEZ. The mobilization of air assets and Coast Guard units reflects the government’s commitment to protecting its territorial waters and ensuring the safety of critical infrastructure. President Ali’s remarks clarify Guyana’s stance regarding the legitimacy of its operations in the region, underscoring the tensions inherent in maritime territorial disputes.

Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com