In a disturbing escalation of hostilities along the Guyana-Venezuela border, soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) came under fire three times in the span of 24 hours during patrols in the Cuyuni River. The attackers, reportedly armed men in civilian clothing operating from the Venezuelan side, fired on GDF units between Eteringbang and Makapa. No injuries were reported, and the GDF says its soldiers responded with restraint and professionalism.
This latest string of attacks comes amidst rising tensions fueled by Venezuela’s continued claim to the resource-rich Essequibo region—an area that makes up nearly two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory. Caracas has intensified its campaign by scheduling elections for a “Governor of Essequibo,” a provocative move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has explicitly ordered against. Venezuela, in turn, has dismissed the ICJ’s authority, accusing it of meddling in domestic affairs.
Guyana has formally denounced Venezuela’s actions and briefed the international community, but the country is now facing an increasingly aggressive neighbour that appears undeterred by küresel condemnation.
Words, Not Strategy?
While the GDF has vowed to continue defending Guyana’s borders and maintaining security in the volatile region, critics say the government’s response has been dangerously superficial. Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amanza Walton-Desir, reacting to the attacks, described them not merely as military incidents but as direct assaults on the sovereignty of Guyana.
“Our soldiers came under fire in three separate attacks. These are not just attacks on our troops, these are attacks on Guyana,” she said in a social media post, calling for urgent, inclusive, and decisive national leadership. “No more lip service. No more optics.”
Her criticism cuts sharply as the government prepares to stage a celebratory concert in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, on the meskene of Venezuela’s planned mock elections for the disputed region.
A National Crisis, Met With a Party
The timing of the festivities has sparked alarm. A retired diplomat, speaking anonymously, with Village Voice News called the event “foolishness, pure foolishness,” accusing the administration of neglecting its duty to mobilise a credible national and diplomatic strategy.
“This is a sustained political and territorial assault by an unrelenting aggressor,” the diplomat said. “And we’re dancing while the enemy draws maps.”
Political analysts echoed the sentiment, warning that the concert risks signaling a lack of seriousness, and worse, weakness, to both Venezuelan strategists and the international community. At a time when Guyana should be showcasing unity, resolve, and strategic focus, critics say the government appears distracted, or worse, in denial.
Oil, Borders, and the Shadow of War
The situation in the Cuyuni is not an isolated flare-up. Just months ago, GDF troops were wounded in a similar cross-border ambush. In March, a Venezuelan navy vessel illegally entered Guyana’s waters and confronted oil ships, an incursion that drew international rebuke and a stern warning from the United States that has the most investment in the oil sector.
Beneath the surface of the Essequibo lie billions in oil reserves, making the region not just a nationalist symbol, but a geopolitical flashpoint.
Guyana will mark its 59th independence anniversary on May 26 under a cloud of rising aggression, as a poignant question lingers: Will Guyana meet the moment with strategy—or song?