Guyana’s President says Venezuela has nothing to fear from activities taking place in Guyanese waters.

Recently, it was announced that the HMS Trent, a royal navy patrol vessel, would be sent to Guyana in a show of “international diplomatic support for Guyana.”

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro says the deployment of the ship breaches the “spirit” of the Argyle Declaration on the Essequibo border dispute, which saw Guyana and Venezuela agree to avoid the use of force and avoid increasing tensions.

The region is generally recognized as part of Guyana, but in recent years Venezuela has revived its claim to the territory and its offshore areas after major oil and gas discoveries.

Guyana’s President is reported by Stabroek News as saying that Venezuela has nothing to fear from activities within Guyana’s waters.

(File photo credit: President Irfaan Ali on Facebook)