Venezuela Escalates Disputes with Guyana, Trinidad Over Border, Mercenary Incursions

Tensions are escalating in northern South America due to territorial disputes and alleged incursions involving Venezuela, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuela accused Trinidad and Tobago of harboring mercenaries involved in an incursion, prompting Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to threaten the use of deadly force against unidentified Venezuelan vessels entering its waters, further straining historically cordial relations. Meanwhile, in the mineral-rich Essequibo region—claimed by both Venezuela and Guyana—multiple attacks on Guyanese troops by assailants from the Venezuelan side have raised concerns that Venezuela, under President Nicolás Maduro, may be using criminal groups to assert control over the disputed territory. This conflict is compounded by Venezuela’s recent decision to hold regional elections in the disputed Essequibo area, violating International Court of Justice directives and drawing condemnation from the international community. The Essequibo dispute involves vast natural resources, including oil and gold, making it a critical geopolitical flashpoint with significant implications for regional stability. Both diplomatic and military tensions remain high as Venezuela intensifies its claims, and Guyana, supported by the U.S. and CARICOM, seeks to maintain control over the territory.