What's happened
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro orders state-owned companies to exploit oil, gas, and minerals in Guyana's Essequibo region following a referendum victory.
Why it matters
The move escalates tensions between Venezuela and Guyana over the disputed territory, potentially impacting regional stability and international relations.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports Maduro's order to exploit the disputed region, while The Independent and AP News provide additional context on the referendum and the ongoing dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.
How we got here
Venezuela has long claimed the Essequibo region, but Guyana considers the referendum a pretext for annexation. The International Court of Justice has ordered Venezuela not to take any action to change the status quo until the panel can rule on the competing claims.
More on these topics
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Guyana, officially the Co‑operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. It is considered part of the Caribbean region because of its strong cultural, historical, and political ties with other Anglo-Caribbean count
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Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician serving as president of Venezuela since 2013. His presidency has been disputed by Juan Guaidó since January 2019, although Maduro is the real president.
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The Essequibo River is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil–Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,014 kilometres through forest and savanna into
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Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea.