Border controversy: “It would be a very bad day for Venezuela” if they attack Guyana – US Secretary of State

…as US vows not to allow illegitimate claims to hinder Guyana’s development

In yet another stern warning to Venezuela, United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has cautioned the Nicolás Maduro regime of consequences should there be an attack on Guyana and/or US oil major, ExxonMobil, which is operating in Guyana’s waters

Secretary Rubio made these remarks during a joint press conference with President Dr Irfaan Ali at State House in Georgetown on Thursday. The US Secretary of State, whose one-day visit to Guyana is part of a three-nation Caribbean tour, was at the time responding to a question from the local media about the US’s support for Guyana in the event of an attack by Venezuela.
“It will be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil or anything like. It would be a very bad day, a very bad week for them. And it would not end well for them,” Rubio declared.
He went onto say, “I’m not going to get into details of what we’ll do; we’re not big on those kinds of threats. I think everybody understands, and I want it to be clear – we’ve made this clear repeatedly – I think the US Navy today is making it clear and demonstrating our ability …we have a big navy and it can get anywhere in the world. And we have commitments that exist today with Guyana. We want to build on those and expand on those. And we’ll leave it for the appropriate time, but suffice it to say that if that regime were to do something such as that, it would be a very bad move. It would be a big mistake for them.”

Military exercises
Earlier on Thursday, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) announced that it would be conducting military exercises with the US Navy this week in international waters as well as in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The joint maritime exercises, which include the GDF’s Patrol Vessel SHAHOUD and the US Navy’s cuiser USS NORMANDY, underscore the deepening defense partnership between the two nations. It focuses on strengthening communications protocols, interoperability, and coordinated manoeuvres, providing both militaries with valuable opportunities to refine operational readiness and share best practices.
According to the GDF, these exercises align with the GDF’s commitment to safeguarding Guyana’s maritime sovereignty and enhancing regional security through collaborative training. This engagement also reflects the strong and growing military-to-military relationship between Guyana and the United States.
These joint maritime exercises come on the heels of a Venezuelan naval vessel enter Guyana’s water’s earlier this month and threatening an ExxonMobil-operator oil tanker offshore.
At approximately 07:00h on Saturday, March 1, 2025, a Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel, identified as ABV Guaiquerí PO-11 (IMO 4695542), entered Guyana’s waters and approached a tanker near the Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) that is operating in the Stabroek Block, Offshore Guyana.
Located within Guyana’s EEZ, which the Maduro regime is laying claim to, the oil-rich Stabroek Block is being operated by ExxonMobil, which has discovered over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and is currently conducting production and other exploration activities.
During its incursion, the Venezuelan naval vessel communicated threateningly via radio communication that Prosperity was operating in Venezuela’s EEZ, before continuing in a southwestern direction towards other FPSOs in Guyana’s waters, to which it delivered the same message.

Consequences
Secretary Rubio, during his remarks at Thursday’s press conference in Georgetown, recognised the challenge that Venezuela’s threats pose to Guyana’s economic development. In recommitting the US’s support, he warned of consequences for these aggressions.

“There will be consequences for adventurism. There will be consequences for aggressive actions. And that’s why our partnership in that regard will be important. That is not what we want to be a feature of our relationship, but it is a necessity of our relationship, because you have a very difficult challenge on your hands with a dictator that’s making illegitimate territorial claims.”
“And so you have our full commitment and support – today we’re demonstrating it – both in tangible ways, and we’re going to look for ways to make it long-term and sustainable…to make abundantly clear that we are invested both as a nation and from our people in being your partner in transformation and in prosperity. And we will not allow illegitimate territorial claims to be an impediment to your dreams and to your right to develop this country,” the US Secretary of State declared.
In addition to Guyana’s EEZ, Venezuela is also laying claims to two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass – the entire Essequibo region. In fact, the Venezuelan Government plans to hold elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region on May 25, 2025.
The Guyana Government has already written the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to block these illegal elections. The World Court, which is currently hearing a case to settle the decades-long border controversy between the two South American neighbours, has already asked Venezuela to explain its actions, which violates a December 2023 order issued by the ICJ to refrain the Spanish-speaking nation from threatening Guyana.
Moreover, Guyana has also updated regional leaders about Venezuela’s latest aggressive tactic.
Nevertheless, President Ali, during the joint press conference with Secretary Rubio on Thursday, welcomed the US’s renewed committed in the face of Venezuela’s heightened aggression.
“I’m very pleased at the reassurance of the US in ensuring the safeguard of our territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our partnership and joint commitment to the safeguard of this region from every disruptive force is key to the maintenance of democracy and an adherence to the rule of law. The threats from Venezuela were specifically discussed – their blatant violation of the ICJ Order and Argyle Declaration were noted,” the Guyanese Leader stated.
The Argle Declaration is a December 14, 2023 peace pact that Presidents Ali and Maduro signed to maintain peace in the Latin America and Caribbean region. This signing was done during the historic CARICOM/CELAC/Brazil-brokered meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).