The Latest Breaking News from Nicolas Maduro

The discovery of vast oil deposits is blamed for reigniting a decades-old territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana that fast worsened as Guyana started granting licenses to multinationals to exploit crude in waters claimed by both countries.

The United States, through National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, urged the sides to find a diplomatic solution to the territorial dispute, saying "we don't want to see this come to blows."

The U.S. Army carried out a joint aerial exercise with Guyana. Washington reiterated its support for the country

The United States announced joint military flight drills in Guyana on Thursday as soaring tensions over a contested oil-rich region with neighbor Venezuela prompted the UN Security Council to call an urgent meeting.

The long-running dispute over Essequibo, which comprises some two-thirds of Guyanese territory, has intensified since ExxonMobil discovered oil there in 2015.

Guyana and Venezuela agreed Wednesday to "keep the communication channels open" in a fast-worsening feud over a disputed, oil-rich region as Brazil reinforced troops on its northern border with the neighbors.

Order from president Nicolás Maduro comes after referendum on whether Venezuela should claim sovereignty over the region

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said that Sunday's referendum in Venezuela over the status of the disputed region of Essequibo was "absolutely not" the success proclaimed by the Maduro regime. According to electoral authorities, 95 percent of voters approved of Venezuela's claim to…

Guyana said Monday it would remain "vigilant" after Venezuelans voted overwhelmingly in favor of claiming an oil-rich border region that makes up more than two-thirds of its territory.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is organising a referendum on Sunday to decide whether to create a new state in the Essequibo territory, an area currently under the control of neighbouring Guyana. Does Caracas have the means for its territorial ambitions, or is it just political grandstanding?

Even though the voting is not binding, tensions are running high between the countries given the rhetoric by Maduro's government