To recap the rapidly evolving situation in Guyana…
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Neighboring Venezuela now considers around three-quarters of the oil-rich nation theirs – with President Nicolás Maduro presenting a map on television that shows Guyana’s Esequibo region as under the jurisdiction of Caracas.
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Maduro vowed to create a Venezuelan state known as Guyana Esequibo, for which he will grant Venezuelan citizenship to Guyanese residents there.
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Maduro will has granted licenses and ordered state oil company PDVSA and state metal conglomerate CVG to drill for oil in the area.
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A special military unit will be created for the territory.
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Energy companies in the Esequibo region such as Exxon Mobil will “have three months to withdraw.”
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Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said he would report the matter to the UN Security Council, saying in a late-night televised address “The Guyana Defense Force is on high alert,” adding “Venezuela has clearly declared itself an outlaw nation.”
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The UN Security Council will hold a closed-door meeting on the issue Friday, Bloomberg reports.
And last night, a Guyana army helicopter was reported missing near the border with Venezuela.
Guyana army helicopter reported missing near border with…
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