(EFE).- Brazilian Defense Minister José Múcio described Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's plan to seize the jungle region of Essequibo from Guyana as a “political maneuver” and viewed it as a conflict between the two countries.
At a lunch with journalists at the naval headquarters in Brasilia, Múcio said he was “hopeful” that Maduro “will not buy a fight of this caliber” that would affect “South America and the international community” as a whole.
Múcio noted that Brazil “will under no circumstances allow a possible land invasion” that would require Venezuelan troops to “cross Brazilian territory.”
In this context, the Minister acknowledged that there will not be a “Guyana versus Venezuela” in Essequibo, a 160,000 square kilometer jungle region rich in oil and minerals that Caracas has claimed ownership of for more than a century.
Tensions between the two countries over Essequibo, which accounts for two-thirds of Guyana's territory, have increased in recent weeks after the Maduro government held a referendum and launched a plan to incorporate the region into the Venezuelan map.
Múcio pointed out that Brazil would “under no circumstances” allow a possible land invasion that would require Venezuelan troops to “cross Brazilian territory,” since the direct border between Venezuela and Guyana is an “inhospitable” jungle that is difficult to access.
“Our duty is to protect the national territory (…) This is a political maneuver (by Maduro),” emphasized the head of the defense department about the Venezuelan leader's expansion plans.
He also mentioned that there was the possibility of “entering by sea”, “raising a flag and saying we have arrived” in Essequibo, but from there “it would be impossible” to move forward.
“This shows that there will be no confrontation” and “Brazil will not interfere in a war under any circumstances,” he noted.
This is in addition to the joint declaration of the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), to which Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru have joined.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke to Maduro by phone on Saturday and told him that “it is important to avoid unilateral actions that lead to an escalation of the situation.”
This comes in addition to the joint declaration by Mercosur countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), to which Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru joined following the holding of the Community's biannual summit in Rio de Janeiro. Janeiro.
The note said: “They called on both parties to dialogue and seek a peaceful solution to the controversy in order to avoid unilateral initiatives that could aggravate the controversy.”
Maduro and his Guyanese counterpart Irfaan Ali will meet this Thursday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to discuss the Essequibo controversy.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The 14ymedio team is committed to serious journalism that reflects the reality in deep Cuba. Thank you for accompanying us on this long journey. We invite you to continue to support us, but this time by becoming a member of our magazine. Together we can continue to transform journalism in Cuba.