Ministry of Defense militarily strengthens borders with Venezuela and Guyana to avoid “escalation of hostilities”

MADRID, December 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Secretary of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean, Gisela María Figueiredo Padovan, stated this Thursday that Brazil was “monitoring” the tensions between Venezuela and Guyana regarding the Essequibo region and had advocated a “peaceful solution.” problem”.

In this regard, he emphasized that Brasilia “has no opinion” regarding the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and stressed that “he considers it an internal matter of Venezuela.” “Any country can hold a referendum, depending on its internal regulations,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian Minister of Defense, José Múcio, has explained that the Army will deploy 60 additional soldiers to strengthen security near the borders with Venezuela and Guyana, considering the increasing tensions, indicating that this reinforcement will double the number. troops in the area, because currently the TNI in the area has 70 soldiers.

The aim of this policy is to prevent this route from being used by other countries to militarize the region or other actions that lead to increased hostilities. Additionally, he has confirmed that there are currently no plans to take any other action, reports Brazilian news portal G1.

Tensions in the region increased after the Venezuelan Government scheduled a referendum this Sunday in which the Venezuelan people will respond if they support the annexation of the region, which is rich in oil and natural resources and is under the control of Guyana according to a treaty. arbitration decision from 1899.

Guyana argues that Caracas agreed to cede the Essequibo after the decision was taken in 1899, but Venezuela later revoked the decision. Caracas relies on a treaty signed in 1966 in Geneva between Venezuela and Britain, Guyana’s former colonial power, which recognized that the Essequibo was a disputed territory.

The ICJ opened the case at Guyana’s request in 2018 and has since decided to declare itself competent in the matter, despite Venezuela’s objection to the judicial process.