The US begins military maneuvers in Guyana this Thursday in the midst of the crisis with Venezuela over the Essequibo

MADRID, 7 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The United States Embassy in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, has reported that in collaboration with the military authorities of that country, the US Army began flight operations this Thursday, in the midst of the territorial dispute with Venezuela over the region of the Essequibo.

"In collaboration with the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), the US Southern Command will conduct flight operations within Guyana on December 7," the Embassy said in a statement.

"This exercise builds on engagements and routine operations to enhance the security partnership between the United States and Guyana, as well as to strengthen regional cooperation," he added.

The United States points out that in addition to these maneuvers, the Southern Command and the Guyana Defense Forces will continue to collaborate in security tasks, disaster management and in the fight against transnational criminal organizations.

"The United States will continue its commitment as a reliable security partner of Guyana and promote regional cooperation and interoperability," the Embassy statement concludes.

The day before, the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, spoke with the president of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, to whom he conveyed Washington's support in this entire issue for the rich Essequibo region.

Venezuela approved the annexation of Essequibo through a referendum on Sunday. A few days later, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, presented to the National Assembly an Organic Law for the creation of the state of Guayana Esequiba following the results of the referendum, which in the eyes of Caracas has gone from being consultative to binding.

The territorial conflict dates back to the 19th century, when an 1899 ruling, defended from Georgetown, stipulated that Venezuela renounced Essequibo, although it later retracted this. For its part, Caracas relies on the 1966 Geneva Agreement signed between the United Kingdom (former colonial power of Guyana) and Venezuela, in which they recognized Essequibo as a disputed territory.