Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro meets soldiers at the Ministry of Defense in Caracas (Photo: Reuters)

A British warship anchored off the coast of Guyana has only fueled tensions in the region over a territorial dispute.

Venezuela has deployed nearly 6,000 soldiers to “protect national sovereignty” in response to the “imperialist” boat.

This came after President Nicolás Maduro’s regime held a referendum earlier this month to gain public support for claiming sovereignty over the vast oil and mineral-rich Essequibo region, controlled by Guyana but long disputed by Venezuela.

In a video shared on

Fighter planes and frigates conduct military exercises near the sea in the conflict with Guyana (Photo: AFP)

“Armed forces are stationed not only in the east of the country, but throughout the territory,” Vladimir Padrino said.

“They will remain there until this British imperialist boat leaves the disputed waters between Venezuela and Guyana.”

The Ministry of Defense confirmed that the video was recorded at a military base in the capital Caracas.

Venezuela has long argued that it was cheated out of Essequibo when the West demarcated the border.

File photo dated March 31, 2021 of the Royal Navy warship HMS Trent being sent to Guyana as a sign of British support for the Commonwealth. The South American country is in a dispute with Venezuela over a mineral-rich border area. HMS Trent will take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas. Date of issue: Sunday, December 24, 2023. PA photo. See PA story POLITICS Guyana. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

HMS Trent is sent to Guyana in a show of British support (Picture: PA)

But Guyana, which has controlled the area for decades, says the agreement is legally binding and the dispute should be settled by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands.

The age-old dispute was recently reignited by the discovery of oil in Guyana and has escalated since the Venezuelan referendum on December 3.

Critics of Maduro claim the socialist leader is using Essequibo to distract from internal unrest and stoke nationalism ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

Tensions have only worsened with the arrival in Guyana on Friday of the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent, recently deployed to intercept pirates and drug smugglers off the coast of Africa.

It is equipped with cannons and a landing pad for helicopters and drones and can carry around 50 Royal Marines.

Maduro said his deployment violated the shaky agreement between Venezuela and Guyana and described his presence as a threat to his country.

In response, he ordered the Venezuelan military – including air and naval forces – to conduct exercises near the disputed area.

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