The President of Venezuela announced the annexation of the territory of Guyana

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro officially declared Venezuela’s 24th state a part of neighboring Guyana Essequibo and called on the country’s parliament to pass a corresponding law, Reuters reports.

Maduro also presented a new map of the country, including Essequibo, and ordered it to be sent to all schools, colleges and universities in Venezuela. He also ordered the immediate start of the granting of oil licenses in the resource-rich region.

In addition, Maduro signed a “presidential decree” establishing the “High Commission for the Defense of Guyana Essequibo.” The measures announced include the approval of oil, gas and mineral exploration licenses. They also proposed a census of the territory’s population to facilitate the granting of Venezuelan citizenship.

Spanish media have reported that Venezuela is mobilizing its army amid the flare-up of conflict in neighboring Guyana.

Before that, Venezuelans overwhelmingly supported annexing the disputed and oil-rich Essequibo territory, long controlled by neighboring Guyana, to the country in a referendum. President Nicolas Maduro called the referendum results a “stunning victory.”

Let us recall that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to the referendum in Venezuela on the annexation of part of Guyana, citing the need for Venezuela to comply with the legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice and refrain from any specific actions that may change the status quo in the Essequibo region.

War for oil. Venezuela is preparing an attack on its neighbor