US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed a stern response if Venezuela attacks Guyana, amid an ongoing territorial dispute over the Essequibo region. Rubio stated that any aggression against Guyana would be a “bad mistake” and that it would be a “very bad day” for the Venezuelan regime.
The dispute between Guyana and Venezuela has been escalating, with Venezuela reviving a century-old territorial claim and taking steps to annex the Essequibo region, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass. The US has been strengthening its ties with Guyana, which has significant offshore oil deposits, and has imposed major sanctions on Venezuela.