Venezuela deploys 6,000 troops to guard ‘sovereignty’ from ‘imperialist’ British warship

A British warship anchored off the coast of Guyana has only fuelled tensions in the region over a territorial dispute.

Venezuela has deployed almost 6,000 soldiers in response to the ‘imperialist’ boat to ‘safeguard national sovereignty’.

This comes after president Nicolás Maduro’s regime held a referendum earlier this month seeking public backing to claim sovereignty over the vast oil- and mineral-rich Essequibo region, which is controlled by Guyana but has long been contested by Venezuela.

In a video shared on X, Venezuela’s defence minister was seen surrounded by the military officers in front of a marked up map of Venezuela and Guyana, a former British colony.

‘Armed forces have been deployed not just in the east of the country, but across the entire territory,’ said Vladimir Padrino.

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

The defence ministry confirmed that the video was filmed at a military base in the capital, Caracas.

Venezuela has long argued it was cheated out of Essequibo when the West set the border.

But Guyana, which has controlled the territory for decades, says the agreement was legally binding and the dispute should be decided by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands.

The century-old dispute was recently reignited with the discovery of oil in Guyana, and has escalated since Venezuela’s referendum on December 3.

Maduro’s critics argue that the socialist leader is using Essequibo to distract from internal turmoil and stoke nationalism in the lead-up to the presidential elections next year.

Tensions only rose amid Friday’s arrival in Guyana of the Royal Navy patrol ship, HMS Trent, most recently used to intercept pirates and drug smugglers off Africa.

It is equipped with cannons and a landing pad for helicopters and drones and can carry about 50 Royal Marines.

Maduro said its deployment violates the shaky agreement between Venezuela and Guyana, calling its presence a threat to his country.

In response, he ordered Venezuela’s military – including air and naval forces – to conduct exercises near the disputed area.

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