The commander in chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and president of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, ordered this Thursday the activation of a defensive maritime military action by the FANB in the face of the threat from the HMS Trent ship of the British Navy, in the coasts of Guyana.
This was announced during the end of year presidential greeting to the FANB from the Ministry of People’s Power for Defense in Fort Tiuna, in Caracas, recalling that on December 24, the United Kingdom announced the sending of a warship to the coasts of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, violating the agreements reached in the Argyle Declaration in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
“It is practically a military threat from London against our country. It is the breaking of the spirit of dialogue, diplomacy and peace of the Argyle agreements. It is the threat against a noble, peaceful but warrior people (…) For this reason, I have ordered the activation of a joint action of the entire FANB on the eastern Caribbean of Venezuela and the Atlantic facade, of a defensive nature, in response to the provocation and threat from the United Kingdom against the peace and sovereignty of our country, which I have called Joint Military Action “General Domingo Sifontes”, hero of Guayana Esequiba,” said the head of state.
In that sense, he highlighted that in January 2024 they will pay tribute to the “Legend General”, taking his mortal remains to the National Pantheon, while emphasizing Venezuela’s right to confront threats against the integrity of the homeland:
“We are active, Venezuela has the right to defend itself, to tranquility and peace. We do not accept provocations or threats from anything nor anyone. Venezuela, with great firmness, patriotism and love, responds to the threat and provocation,” emphasized the head of state.
In this regard, he established contact with the commander of the Bolivarian National Navy, Admiral Neil Villamizar Sánchez, to activate the “General Domingo Antonio Sifontes 2023” Joint Action Military Exercises of the FANB in the Gulf of Paria, in Sucre state.
The activity included the deployment of 5,682 FANB combatants, three ocean patrol vessels, two logistical transports, three multipurpose vessels, three coast guard patrol vessels, 13 missile boats and 23 fighter aircraft; among them, F-16 and Sukhoi planes.
This December 28, through a communiqué, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela expressed its categorical rejection of the arrival of the British Navy HMS Trent ship to the coast of Guyana, an action that is described as an act of hostile provocation and a violation of the Argyle Declaration.
The content of the communiqué is reproduced below:
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the arrival of the HMS Trent ship of the British Navy, to the coasts of Guyana, which becomes an act of hostile provocation and a violation of the recent Argyle Declaration, assumed as a roadmap to address the territorial dispute over Guayana Esequiba between Venezuela and Guyana.
The presence of the military ship is extremely serious, since it is accompanied by statements by political and military spokesmen of who served as the looter of Guayana Esequiba, who insists on getting involved in said controversy.
These statements have also been synchronized with actions by the United States Southern Command, which clearly becomes a direct threat to the peace and stability of the region.
Venezuela urges the Guyana authorities to take immediate action to remove the HMS Trent ship, and to refrain from continuing to involve military powers in the territorial controversy.
Likewise, it warns the members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), that these actions are contrary to the spirit of peace and understanding with which we attend the call on December 14 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, to which we must return immediately and continue with the path of direct dialogue between the parties.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reserves all actions, within the framework of its Constitution and International Law, to defend the maritime and territorial integrity of the Homeland.”
Caracas, December 28, 2023
