Overview

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela of severe consequences for any attack on Guyana or ExxonMobil during his visit to Georgetown on March 27, 2025.
• The territorial dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region remains unresolved, with the International Court of Justice reviewing the case.
• Joint military exercises between the U.S. Navy and Guyana Defence Force were conducted in Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone to bolster regional security.
• Tensions escalated earlier this month when Guyana accused a Venezuelan coast guard vessel of entering its waters near an Exxon-operated facility, a claim Venezuela denies.
• Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil rejected Rubio's remarks, asserting that Venezuela would not yield to foreign intimidation or abandon its claims over Essequibo.