Guyana

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Venezuela's ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela retained its broad majority in the National Assembly in an election on May 25, winning nearly 83% of votes, and expanded its control to 23 out of the country's 24 governorships, El Pais reported on May 26. 

Venezuela: Government Consolidates Control Following Regional and Legislative Elections

United States

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela will face consequences should it attack Guyana or ExxonMobil's energy facilities, Reuters reported on March 27. 

U.S., Guyana, Venezuela: Washington's Support for Guyana To Further Sour Relations With Caracas

Economics

The U.S. Treasury issued a new license that shortened the timeline for Chevron to exit Venezuela from six months to 30 days, setting April 3 as the new deadline, Bloomberg reported on March 4.

U.S., Venezuela: Chevron To Accelerate Exit From Venezuela Amid Stricter U.S. Approach to Caracas

Guyana's President Irfaan Ali on March 1 criticized Venezuela after one of its vessels entered Guyanese waters and approached an oil and gas facility, El Pais reported on March 2.

Venezuela, Guyana: Territorial Dispute Resumes, Likely Over U.S. Licence Suspension

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U.S. military personnel airlifted nonessential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti and bolstered security at the embassy quarters, Bloomberg reported on March 10.

Haiti: U.S. Military Airlifts Embassy Staff Out of Haiti

Venezuela has steadily been building up its military capabilities on the Anacoco Island, an area immediately adjacent to Guyana's Essequibo region that Venezuela also claims, The Wall Street Journal reported on Feb. 9.

Venezuela, Guyana: Military Buildup on Edge of Essequibo Region Threatens Conflict

On Dec. 28, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces would conduct defensive military exercises in the Gulf of Paria, west of Guyana, Bloomberg reported the same day.

Venezuela, Guyana: Maduro Announces Military Exercises Near Essequibo

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The British Defence Ministry confirmed Dec. 24 that the United Kingdom will deploy the naval patrol ship HMS Trent off the coast of Guyana in a show of support for the former British colony amid its territorial dispute with neighboring Venezuela, the Financial Times reported Dec. 24.

Guyana: U.K. Announces Deployment of Naval Ship to Guyana

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Venezuelan lawmaker Pedro Carreno (L) delivers a speech while Venezuelan deputy Diosdado Cabello (R) holds a map showing the border between Venezuela and Guyana during a legislative session in Caracas on Jan. 8, 2019.

Venezuela is ramping up border operations as it prepares to pursue its territorial claims on Guyana's Essequibo region.

Venezuela's Reach for Guyana's Territory

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A man on a motorcycle rides past a mural in Caracas, Venezuela, campaigning for a referendum on annexing the Guyana-administered region of Essequibo on Nov. 28, 2023. 

Caracas will likely use the referendum results to drum up political support ahead of the 2024 presidential election, but it remains unlikely to launch a full-scale invasion of its eastern neighbor.

Venezuelan Voters Back Referendum Over Region Disputed With Guyana

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A photo taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows a rocket being fired from inside Gaza toward Israel, as fighting resumed between the Israeli forces and Hamas militants after a temporary cease-fire expired on Dec. 1, 2023.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Gaza War Resumes, Venezuela Votes on Guyana Dispute

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Controversy over the country's March 7 election could deter foreign investment and delay the government's pending oil and gas projects, should it morph into a prolonged political crisis. 

Postelection Turmoil Could Jeopardize Guyana's Oil Windfall

Production from Guyana's giant offshore oil field has started to come online, and the expected revenue windfall will be a key prize for the winning party in the country's upcoming election.

A Crude Recovery

The winners of the March 2 vote will have the opportunity to use the country's newfound oil wealth to entrench their political future.

The High Stakes of Guyana's Elections

Colombia

Brazil may eventually need to use the military and police to repulse illegal mining driven by Venezuela's survival strategy.

Venezuela's Unraveling

Venezuela's strategy is reportedly spurring the spread of criminal gangs and militants, and making waves in Guyana, Brazil and Colombia.

Caracas' Push for Illegal Mining Is Creating Problems for Its Neighbors

Suriname

There are a number of political considerations that may motivate Caracas to make a military incursion in Guyana. 

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

An unconfirmed report suggests Caracas is considering the move. And though it could worsen Venezuela’s already dire situation, it could also offer opportunities for leverage. 

Would Venezuela Invade Guyana?

The road connecting the Brazilian state of Roraima to the Guyanese capital Georgetown and its port is rough, with a critical section unpaved.

Agriculture

Brasilia is beating a path to its northern neighbor in an effort to export crops from a remote, landlocked state.

Guyana's Jungle Is Brazil's Agricultural Frontier

Venezuela's Petrocaribe provides subsidized oil to allied countries. Guyana may soon reap its own oil benefits.

Supply Chains

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

The poor, sparsely populated South American country sees wealth ahead, but the economic benefits may not be all they seem.

What Lies Beneath Guyana's Petroleum Future

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Paris Agreement Emphasizes Shift Away From Oil

The pace of the transition will be decided by how quickly new technologies reach the developing world.

Delegates attend a plenary session at the U.N. climate change summit in Paris on Dec. 9.

The agreement signed Dec. 12 in Paris is just a small part of a broader energy transition driven by technological change.

Climate Agreement Will Only Hasten Transition Beyond Oil

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On Geopolitics

Latin American economic exposure to China

South America: Split Decisions on Trade

The Importance of Mexico

What will Latin America as a whole look like in a decade as a result of the Chinese economic downturn? What ideologies will dominate in a continent that over the past decade veered toward leftist populism? And what issues will define its relationship with the United States, the hemisphere's undisputed hegemon?

The New Latin America

Guyana is a tiny country clinging to the resource-rich northern coast of South America. Culturally, it shares more in common with the nearby Caribbean than with its neighbors Venezuela and Brazil. This is not surprising, since Guyana was controlled by the British from the early 1800s to 1966. Similarly, the Dutch controlled the region east of Guyana, which would later become Suriname, and the French took possession of the area even further east, French Guiana, which remains a French overseas territory to this day.    The vast majority of Guyana's 800,000 inhabitants live near the coast in the capital city of Georgetown. The country's interior is sparsely developed but is rich in minerals and other commodities. Gold and lumber are the major exports from this remote area. But because Guyana has a weak government, much of its commodity trade is carried out illegally, with participants paying no taxes and following no environmental regulations.     Guyana's main political challenge since gaining independence in 1966 has come from abroad, as Venezuela has for decades laid claim to all of Guyana's land west of the Essequibo River &mdash; nearly half the country. No international body legally recognizes Venezuela's claim, but it still threatens Guyana's territory, since illegal miners and loggers continue to cross the border in ever greater numbers as Venezuela's economic crisis worsens.    Offshore, several major oil companies are beginning production. But although Guyana's government revenue will increase, most of the country will not feel the economic benefits of oil, as jobs go primarily to skilled foreigners. 

SITUATION REPORTS

Venezuela: Government Consolidates Control Following Regional and Legislative Elections

U.S., Guyana, Venezuela: Washington's Support for Guyana To Further Sour Relations With Caracas

U.S., Venezuela: Chevron To Accelerate Exit From Venezuela Amid Stricter U.S. Approach to Caracas

Venezuela, Guyana: Territorial Dispute Resumes, Likely Over U.S. Licence Suspension

Haiti: U.S. Military Airlifts Embassy Staff Out of Haiti

Venezuela, Guyana: Military Buildup on Edge of Essequibo Region Threatens Conflict

Venezuela, Guyana: Maduro Announces Military Exercises Near Essequibo

Guyana: U.K. Announces Deployment of Naval Ship to Guyana

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