Member states of the Union of South American Nations

In a move likely to escalate tensions with neighboring Guyana, Venezuela's lawmakers, aligned with President Nicolas Maduro's government, have passed legislation to establish a new state within the disputed Essequibo region. The decision comes amidst a longstanding territorial dispute between the two nations, with the legal case pending in the UN International Court of Justice.

A British warship arrived off the coast of Guyana on Friday, further fueling tensions over a territorial dispute with Venezuela, which has launched a major military exercise in response to what it termed an "unacceptable" threat.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed meeting Friday at the request of Guyana following Venezuela's weekend referendum claiming the vast oil- and mineral-rich Essequibo region that makes up a large part of its neighbor.

Let's recall that in a public address after Sunday's referendum on the annexation of the Essequibo region, Nicolas Maduro presented a map showing the territory of Guyana on the Venezuelan side.
The Essequibo region is rich in oil and has been a disputed territory since the 19th century when Guyana was a British colony.

Brazil announced it had begun deploying troops along its border with Venezuela after the government in Caracas said it intended to annex territory controlled by Guyana, the BBC reported on Thursday.

Agence France-Presse adds that the increased presence is part of efforts to "guarantee the inviolability of the territory".

Eight South American countries that are part of the regional PROSUR bloc are coordinating their response to the new coronavirus, said Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, quoted by the DPA.

Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru and Guyana have agreed to "unify measures for the entry of people into each country," Moreno wrote on Twitter.

Guyana's government is "in discussion" with Exxon Mobil after two ships searching for oil off the South American country's coast halted work following a weekend confrontation with Venezuela's navy, Guyana's foreign minister said on Dec. 24.

Dozens of German companies including Siemens attended meetings in Bolivia this week to discuss building a coast-to-coast railway through Brazil, Bolivia and Peru that could speed up the export of corn and soybeans to Asia, German and Bolivian officials said on March 22.

BELGRADE – Latin American nations accused the US of “neo-colonialism” at the UN General Assembly, with Venezuela going as far as calling the Washington “the biggest exporter of violence in the world,” while also arguing for the removal of stumbling blocks to development. Ecuador and Nicaragua joined Venezuela in their condemnation of the US at

Colombia and Venezuela recalled their ambassadors on Aug. 27 for consultations, amid mounting tensions that began nearly a week ago when Caracas closed off their shared border.