Brazilian Army tanks in Pacaraima (Photo: Pacaraima Notícias)
Residents of the municipality of Pacaraima (RR) have released videos over the past two weeks documenting an unusual movement of Brazilian army troops toward the BrazilVenezuela border.
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The situation has frightened the local population and helped fuel conspiracy theories about a possible connection with the impending Venezuelan dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro, who wants to invade Guyana to take over the oilrich Essequibo territory, which is 74% of the neighboring country.
There have been legal disputes in the Essequibo region for more than 100 years (Photo: Disclosure)
The president of the Trade and Economic Association of Pacaraima, João Kleber Soares Borges, summarized the lack of information about the arrival of dozens of army vehicles in the border town, including two tanks, admitting that the movement causes astonishment.
“This situation at the same time reassures us because it is a sign of increased protection on our border, and at the same time we are a little worried. “Maybe they already have some information that we certainly don’t have and are taking precautions,” he said .
When contacted, the first jungle infantry brigade made it clear that the convoy’s journey to the border was part of normal troop training activities. “This exercise is specifically the advanced training of the 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade called Operation Roraima 2023, which is a common practice to maintain the readiness and efficiency of the armed forces,” he explained.
A Sheet is also waiting for a response from the Brazilian Ministry of Defense.
Referendum in Venezuela
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro (Photo: Disclosure)
On December 3, Venezuelans will go to the polls to decide whether or not to accept the annexation of the Guyana region to Venezuela. The area concentrates oil blocks with reserves of more than 10 billion barrels.
On Tuesday (21), Special Adviser for International Affairs to the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil, Celso Amorim, traveled to Caracas to warn dictator Maduro against the campaign for annexation, but without asking not to hold the referendum. The information comes from the newspaper O Globo.
Brazil fears the situation is spiraling out of control as Maduro has publicly defended invasion of the disputed territory since the 19th century, when Guyana was a British colony. Therefore, Amorim called on the dictator to seek dialogue and mitigate threats of territorial invasion, arguing that an escalation of tensions between the two countries could lead to “regional instability.”
The newspaper also reported that Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali asked his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to dissuade Maduro from his intention to invade the country’s territory.
The Guyanese portal Guyana Chronicle reported Ali’s statement that his country is preparing for a possible conflict, although it believes all tensions are based on Venezuelan rhetoric. The president also said he does not expect reckless action from the neighboring country and expects the dispute to be resolved peacefully at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).