Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has criticised a recent decision by the UK government to deploy a warship in the waters off Guyana.
Speaking via a state television broadcast on Thursday, December 28, Mr Maduro claimed that the British vessel's deployment is a breach of the "spirit of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace" of an agreement reached by the Venezuelan and Guyanese governments regarding the Essequibo region.
The 160,000-square-kilometre region, which boasts oil and gas reserves, falls within Guyana's control. However, the area has also been claimed by Venezuela in a long-standing dispute.
The agreement reached by the two countries in December 2023 stipulated that they will refrain from using force with the aim of easing tensions along their shared border.
Mr Maduro's pronouncement came following the recent arrival of the Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Trent in Guyana as part of a series of regional engagements on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.
The vessel's deployment was "practically a military threat from London," the president added.
During the same broadcast, Mr Maduro ordered the activation of a "joint defensive action" by the country's armed forces but did not disclose additional details.