…says ship’s crew threatened FPSOs workers

The Government of Guyana through the of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry has formally protested the Venezuelan Naval Vessel ABV Guaiqueiri PO-11-IMO 469552 that sailed approximately 700 metres in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone near Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel producing oil in the Stabroek Block.

The Venezuelan vessel that approached Guyana’s assets within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

According to the Government, “this latest action by the Government of Venezuela has done nothing but pose a threat to the peace, good order and security of the sovereign territory of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the stability of the Latin American and Caribbean region” – noting that “Guyana views this maneuver as highly provocative and is concerned by the persistence of the Government of Venezuela in encroaching on Guyana’s land and maritime territory”.
At approximately 07:00h on Saturday, a Venezuelan naval ship entered Guyana’s waters and approached a tanker near the Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel producing oil in the Stabroek Block.
In a circulated recording, a radio broadcast exchange between the Venezuelan vessel and the captain of the Liza Destiny FPSO, the Venezuelan officer could be heard asking a number of questions to the captain. While the captain answered some questions, he refused to answer other enquiries, such as how many people were on board.
Additionally, the vessel was heard claiming that the waters were in dispute, despite the fact that the waters are well within Guyana’s exclusive economic zone.
In a national broadcast on Saturday morning, President Dr Irfaan Ali strongly condemned the actions of the Venezuelan navy. Guyana promptly began informing international partners, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) of Venezuela’s intrusion.
Guyana has since summoned Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana Carlos Amador Perez Silva on the matter.
Guyana is also in the process of updating the International Court of Justice on these developments.
In the meantime, the Government of Guyana has reminded the Government of Venezuela of its international obligations under general international law, the United Nations Charter and the Order issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023 which states that pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area; and both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”
The formal protest vividly outlines that “Guyana is the only State entitled to administer and exercise control over the Essequibo Region pending the final Judgment by the Court…The aggressive behaviour by Venezuela’s naval warship on March 1, 2025 violates the Court’s prohibition on engaging in any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute”.
Venezuela is claiming more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in the Essequibo region and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels have been discovered over the past nine years.
In December last, Guyana submitted its final written reply to Venezuela’s counter-memorial, pointing out that the Spanish-speaking nation’s case is without merit and that ultimately, the court will confirm the 1899 award as valid and legally binding.
In the merits phase of the case, Guyana’s Memorial was submitted on April 8, 2023, and Venezuela’s Counter-Memorial was made one year later on April 8, 2024. Now with Guyana’s Reply filed on December 9 as set out by the ICJ, Venezuela will have the opportunity to respond with its Rejoinder, due on August 8, 2025.
This recent intrusion follows many in the past, including the deployment of armoured personnel carriers, battle tanks, and patrol boats to Ankoko (the island through which the international boundary between Venezuela and Guyana passes, the eastern portion of which belongs to Guyana but was seized by Venezuela in 1966), and an exponential increase in the presence of Venezuelan troops along the border. Compounding this threat to Guyana, Venezuela constructed a bridge connecting the Venezuelan mainland to Guyana’s part of Ankoko Island. The completion of this bridge in December 2024, significantly bolsters Venezuela’s military capabilities, enhancing offensive strategies.