Pompeo bats for U.S. interests

Mar 03, 2025 News

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—says Maduro will not be allowed to violate Guyana’s sovereignty

Kaieteur News- Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asserted that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will not be allowed to endanger American interests or violate Guyana’s sovereignty.

Pompeo posted on X (formerly Twitter), “America First means not letting thugs like Venezuela’s Maduro put American interest at risk and violate Guyana’s sovereignty.”

His statement follows Venezuela’s latest provocation, in which an armed patrol ship, Guaiquerí (PO 11), illegally entered Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Saturday and threatened ExxonMobil Guyana’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Prosperity.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) is a subsidiary of U.S oil giant ExxonMobil Corporation. EMGL is the operator of the Stabroek Block holding 45% interest alongside its partners Hess (another U.S oil company) and China’s CNOOC, both holding 30% and 25% interest respectively.

Exxon is currently producing oil at three FPSOs in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, and five drill rigs. Exxon’s production rate is currently over 600,000 barrels per day (bpd). Venezuela has long claimed more than two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory – the resource rich Essequibo region. The Guyana-Venezuela border controversy case is still pending before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In reacting to Venezuela’s aggression, President Irfaan Ali made it clear that his government is addressing the situation with seriousness and had summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Perez, to protest this latest act of aggression. A formal protest will also be made in Caracas by Guyana’s Embassy there. Guyana has also informed its partners, the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Regional Security System (RSS), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and they have all responded positively, assured President Ali.

“And we continue to work with other neighbours, Brazil, at the military level and at the level of the State,” the president stated. President Ali said Guyana is firmly committed to the rule of international law, to peaceful resolution of controversies, and to the power of diplomacy. “But, make no mistake of it: fortified by the strong voices and resolute support of our international partners, Guyana will not allow Maduro and Venezuela to threaten or violate our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he stated.

The head-of-state said Guyana appreciates “greatly the international solidarity and unwavering support that have been extended to us by our international partners on this matter.”

“We will remain in close contact with our partners in protecting Guyana’s interests and maintaining peace in our Region,” President Ali said.

Also in a statement the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) called on Venezuela to order the urgent removal of the vessel from Guyana’s waters and further, to refrain from engaging with the FPSO platforms, as has been reported. CARICOM reiterated its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana. The body reminded that such acts of aggression and provocation are contrary to international law and the 2023 Argyle Declaration, which Guyana and Venezuela are bound by, to avoid unnecessary confrontational actions.

Labeling Venezuela’s action as provocation, CARICOM further stated that such a move runs counter to the agreed commitment of CARICOM and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to ensure that the Caribbean region remains a Zone of Peace.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, warned the Maduro regime. The U.S. said that Venezuelan naval vessels threatening the FPSO unit is unacceptable and a clear violation of Guyana’s internationally-recognized maritime territory. “Further provocation will result in consequences for the Maduro regime. The United States reaffirms its support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and the 1899 arbitral award,” it was stated.

The Organization of American States (OAS) unequivocally condemned the recent actions of the Venezuelan naval vessels threatening ExxonMobil’s FPSO units operating within Guyana’s internationally recognized maritime territory. General Secretariat Luis Almagro stated, “Such acts of intimidation constitute a clear violation of international law, undermine regional stability, and threaten the principles of peaceful coexistence between nations.”

Meanwhile, Guyana has since deployed air assets in its EEZ following the Venezuelan incursion in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guards will also be deployed, and the National Defence Board has been meeting periodically on the matter.

In a statement, the GDF said it has observed the presence of the Venezuelan vessel in the EEZ and “remains vigilant in monitoring all activities within our maritime domain and reiterates its commitment to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.” Further, the GDF said its security protocol remains in place as “we continue to coordinate, mobilize and deploy the relevant resources to ensure a measured and appropriate response to developments in our waters.” “The GDF, in collaboration with our partners, continues to assess the security implications of this development and remains proactive in maintaining the stability of our maritime space,” the statement said as GDF assured that Guyana’s security and well-being “remain our utmost priority”. “We reaffirm our dedication to the defence of Guyana’s air, land and sea domain,” the Force said.

Venezuela’s latest act of aggression comes just days after the Donald Trump administration cancelled a Biden-era licence that had allowed U.S. company Chevron to sell hydrocarbon products from its operations in Venezuela.

Guyana and Venezuela are presently before the ICJ in a territorial controversy over the mineral-rich Essequibo, an area that is almost two-thirds of the country.

(Pompeo bats for U.S. interests)

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• border controversy, Mike Pompeo, Nicolás Maduro, United States

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