In December, the 2 countries committed not to use force against each other to resolve the dispute over the region
The Brazilian Army completed the sending of 28 armored vehicles to Roraima with the aim of strengthening security on the border with Venezuela and Guyana after the increase in tension between the 2 countries due to the dispute over the Essequibo region.
The transfer of armored vehicles to the north of the country is part of “Operation Roraima”, which has sent military equipment to the Amazon region. According to the Army, the project foresees a 10% increase in troop numbers in the Northern Military Command and the Amazon Military Command.
“The arrival of the armored vehicles is the result of the Brazilian Army’s planning aimed at reinforcing and prioritizing the Amazon”stated, in a note, the Army Social Communication Center.
The structure of the Roraima military unit has been expanded from squadron to regiment. “After the complete transformation of the unit, scheduled for 2025, the Regiment will have three squadrons and a staff of around 600 soldiers”reported the Army.
This equipment left Campo Grande (MS), on January 17, and arrived in Manaus last week, after traveling more than 3,500 kilometers. They were then moved to Roraima.
The convoy that arrived in Boa Vista (RR) was made up of 14 4×4 Guaicurus Multitasking Armored Vehicles (VBMT), all equipped with remotely controlled weapons systems, optronic means of thermal vision and command and control modules, in addition to 8 vehicles medium armored personnel carriers on Guarani wheels, 6 medium armored reconnaissance vehicles on wheels EE-9 Cascavel, and other administrative vehicles.
TERRITORIAL DISPUTE
The deployment of troops and military equipment to Roraima began after the escalation of tensions between Venezuela and Guyana caused by the dispute over the territory of Essequibo. The target of a controversy that dates back to the 19th century, this territory was once again claimed by the Venezuelan government last year. In December, Venezuelan voters approved, in a referendum, the incorporation of Essequibo, which makes up 75% of current Guyana.
The 160,000 km² territory with a population of 120,000 people has been the subject of dispute since at least 1899, when this space was handed over to Great Britain, which controlled Guyana at the time. Venezuela, however, does not recognize this decision and has always considered the region “in dispute”.
In 1966, the United Nations brokered the Geneva Agreement – shortly after Guyana's independence –, according to which the region is still “for negotiation”. There are estimates that the region has billions of barrels of oil.
On December 15, 2023, the presidents of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and Guyana, Irfaan Ali, committed not to use force against each other to resolve the dispute. Brazil helped to mediate the meeting and a new meeting between the two presidents should take place by March this year to continue negotiations.
With information from Brazil Agency.
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