Guyana considers poll on Essequibo by Nicolás Maduro’s government a step toward annexation
Venezuelans are voting in a referendum to supposedly decide the future of a large swath of neighbouring Guyana of which their government claims ownership, arguing the territory was stolen when a north-south border was drawn more than a century ago.
Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation and the poll has its residents on edge. It asks Venezuelans whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory known as Essequibo, granting citizenship to current and future area residents, and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations’ top court in settling the disagreement between the two South American countries.
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The 61,600 sq mile (159,500 sq km) territory accounts for two-thirds of Guyana and also borders Brazil, whose defense ministry earlier this week said in a statement that it had “intensified its defence actions” and boosted its military presence in the region as a result of the dispute.
This sounds like Putin paying Maduro to try to distract the west from the Ukraine invasion. Over the next year, Putin will want to cause as many conflicts as he can that affect western interests.
Bingo. Putin is using every geopolitical lever he has to destabilize the world. 10/6 was an op. This Venezuela crap is an op. Sucks how effective it is at exploiting democracy.
Everyone made fun of mitt Romney when he claimed Putin was americas greatest enemy on the debate stage in ‘12. Dudes got a lot of problems but he was right about that shit.