Authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro accused opposition leader María Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo González of “criminal violence.”
🚨#Venezuela: The statue of Hugo Chávez in Falcón state is being toppled amid growing protests against electoral fraud by Maduro's tyrannical regime.
Protesters are demanding Maduro make voting data from Sunday’s, July 28, election public. Venezuela’s opposition and multiple Latin American leaders are refusing to recognize Maduro’s victory.
Machado said on Monday, July 29, the country’s opposition had about 73% of the voting tallies from Sunday’s election, proving Maduro did not win.
The national electoral authority has proclaimed Maduro the winner, giving him a third term in office and extending 25 years of socialist party rule.
Hamas leader reportedly killed in Iran amid rising tensions in Middle East
A Hamas leader is reportedly assassinated in Iran as developments in the Middle East raise concerns of conflict escalating in the region. And Vice President Kamala Harris is closer to naming her running mate with plans of holding their first rally in a matter of days. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
Hamas leader reportedly killed in Iran amid rising tensions in Middle East
Major developments in the Middle East, with reports of a top Hamas leader being killed in Iran on the same day Israel struck Lebanon’s capitol and killed a Hezbollah commander. The U.S. also carried out a strike in Iraq in what U.S. officials are calling a move of self-defense.
According to state media, Iran’s president said the country “will defend its territory and make those responsible regret their actions.” Fears of an all-out regional conflict have also been renewed with the Hamas leader’s death happening on Iranian soil.
Tensions are also growing in Iraq as the U.S. said it carried out a strike against a base in Baghdad used by Iraqi forces, killing four Iraqi fighters. The U.S. said the move was in self-defense, telling Reuters those militants were looking to launch drones and posed a threat to the U.S.
Some global media outlets are also reporting hopes of any ceasefire hostage deal between Israel and Hamas are looking slim to none given the escalations happening within the past 24 hours.
Kamala Harris to hold rally with vice president pick in Philadelphia next week
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce her running mate pick on Monday, August 5, as she looks to win the presidency. Then, on Tuesday, August 6, she’s expected to hold a rally in Philadelphia with her new running mate joining her on stage.
The campaign trail is heating up, with Harris holding her largest rally yet in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, July 30.
Both the Harris and Trump campaigns also released new political ads attacking the records of their opponent. And both are on the road to more events to rally their supporters.
This race will be among a handful that determine who controls the U.S. Senate this fall. Currently, the Senate is controlled by Democrats while the House is controlled by Republicans, both with slim majorities.
Riots over Venezuela’s presidential election continue
Authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro accused opposition leader María Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo González of “criminal violence,” and a close ally is calling for their arrests.
Protesters are demanding Maduro make voting data from Sunday’s, July 28, election public. Venezuela’s opposition and multiple Latin American leaders are refusing to recognize Maduro’s victory.
Machado said on Monday, July 30, the country’s opposition had about 73% of the voting tallies from Sunday’s election, proving Maduro did not win.
The national electoral authority has proclaimed Maduro the winner, giving him a third term in office and extending 25 years of socialist party rule.
Boar’s Head recall expanded to include 7 million more pounds of deli meats
Boar’s Head, a company known for deli meats, is recalling an extra 7 million pounds of its products. This is because there’s an outbreak of listeria, a dangerous bacteria, that has been linked to two deaths and made dozens of people very sick in 13 states.
The recall includes various types of meats like liverwurst, ham and salami made at their Virginia plant and have sell-by dates ranging from July 29 to Oct. 17. This recall adds to an earlier one of more than 200,000 pounds of similar products.
The issue was first noticed when a liverwurst sample from Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further tests confirmed that this same listeria strain was making people sick.
Starbucks sales down as prices go up
For the second quarter in a row, Starbucks’ sales have slumped as prices continue to rise. In its latest earnings report, Starbucks’ sales dropped 3% globally and 2% in North America.
Total transactions at North American stores fell by 6%, but higher prices shorten the gap between sales and revenue as coffee chains and restaurants alike continue to struggle with bringing customers in amid high prices.
Simone Biles leads U.S. Women’s gymnastics team to gold medal
After dropping out of the women’s gymnastics team event in Tokyo three years ago and taking time to focus on her mental health, Simone Biles returned to the same event on Tuesday, July 30, in Paris. This time she led Team USA to the gold.
Biles, along with Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, won by more than five points. Italy took home the silver medal and Brazil won bronze.
With the victory, Biles becomes the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history, with eight medals.
And she’s not done yet. Biles will compete in four more individual events including the all-around final on Thursday, Aug. 1, where she’ll have a chance to add more gold to her historic record.
Protests erupt over Venezuela election, strongman Maduro claims victory
In Venezuela, the results of a recent presidential election are being reported in two significantly different ways, leading world leaders, including those in the United States, to question the validity of the election. Authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claims to have won reelection by a narrow majority of 51%, despite exit polls indicating that his challenger is ahead by more than 30 percentage points.
The opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, is also claiming victory with a substantial margin of 73%, stating that he received over 6 million votes compared to less than 3 million for the incumbent.
The discrepancy prompted demonstrations on the streets of Venezuela. Protesters celebrated the toppling of a statue depicting late President Hugo Chávez, an ally of the current regime.
The Socialist Party of Venezuela has been in power for more than 25 years, and the country’s election commission declared Maduro the winner. If these results are upheld, he would enter his third presidential term.
This is not the first time Maduro’s reelection has been contested.
In 2018, the U.S. labeled his victory as fraudulent. International leaders are calling for transparency regarding the latest election results.
Venezuela has long been impacted by severe problems, including shortages of food and medicine, human rights violations that have led to U.S. sanctions, high unemployment and a collapsed economy.
The country faces a financial and humanitarian crisis, and nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled the nation due to corruption and instability. This mass exodus has had a direct impact on the U.S.
Residents protesting the election results had hoped that this election could bring about a change and allow them to stay in their home country to help rebuild it.
“I came to the street,” one protester said. “We want freedom. We’re tired of this government, we want a change. We want to be free in Venezuela. We want to be free with our families to return here; we don’t want them to leave anymore.”
Maduro and opposition both claim to win Venezuela’s presidential election
In a highly watched and highly scrutinized electoral process, Venezuela’s president election is ending in controversy. Authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won the election on Monday, July 29. However, his political opponents have too.
With 80% of votes counted, Maduro is said to have won with more than 51% of the vote, leading electoral authorities to declare him the winner.
However, the opposition claims candidate Edmundo González received 70% of the vote against Maduro’s 30%. González said all rules were violated.
The opposition is demanding electoral authorities present all the voting tallies issued by the voting machines to verify the results.
The United States and multiple regional nations have also voiced skepticism about official results handing victory to Maduro.
Israel says Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Israel vowed Hezbollah will “pay the price” after the deadliest strike on Israeli territory since Oct. 7 killed 12 children. And former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue on the campaign trail with less than 100 days to go until Election Day. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, July 29, 2024.
Israel: Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Tensions are escalating in the Middle East after a deadly assault on Israel on Saturday, July 27. Israeli officials said a Hezbollah rocket launched from Lebanon struck a soccer field in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children.
It marked the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack. Hezbollah has denied it was behind the strike.
Now, attention turns to how Israel will respond to the threat and if the war is on the brink of expansion.
Thousands of people attended funeral services for the children who died in Saturday’s attack. Their caskets were hauled through the streets as people paid their respects.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah “will pay the price” for the latest attack.
It’s an escalation in a series of back and forth between Hezbollah and Israel. The Iran-backed militant group has been firing rockets at Israel from Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has been retaliating, striking their targets in Lebanon and killing top Hezbollah and Hamas leadership in the region, but this latest hit against Israel could create a larger response.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the country will not get involved in a war but will stand behind Hezbollah. The foreign minister said Lebanon has received reassurances from the U.S. and France that Israel’s response will be “limited.”
The Biden administration has warned Israel of how its next steps could lead to a larger conflict and is warning against them hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut. International flights into Beirut are being canceled out of fears of escalation.
Harris, Trump look to rally support less than 100 days until election day
With less than 100 days left until the 2024 presidential election, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump spent the weekend speaking to their supporters at campaign events. Harris spoke to voters in Massachusetts and Trump held events in Florida.
“She was a bum,” Trump told his supporters in West Palm Beach on Friday, July 26. “Three weeks ago, she was a bum, a failed vice president in a failed administration with millions of people crossing when she was the border czar.”
Harris promised supporters her “underdog” campaign would prevail.
“Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record,” she said on Saturday, July 27. “And some of what he and his running mate are saying, it’s just plain weird.”
New polling from ABC News shows support for Harris is growing among independent voters. Forty-four percent have a favorable view of Harris — up from 28% from only a week ago — as she tries to rally Democratic Party support before officially becoming the nominee.
On July 30 and Aug 1., Harris will hold campaign events in Georgia and Texas, respectively. Trump will head back to Pennsylvania for the first time since surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in the state on July 13.
Mark Meadows asks SCOTUS to intervene in Georgia election interference case
Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff during the Trump administration, is turning to the Supreme Court to intervene in the Georgia election interference case against him. Meadows’ lawyers have asked the justices to take up his bid to move the case to federal court.
In their filing on Friday, July 26, Meadows’ legal team argued his actions are entitled to immunity from prosecution citing the high court’s recent ruling that gave former President Trump immunity for official acts as president.
Meadows has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case, however, remains on hold as Meadows and other co-defendants — including former President Trump — challenge a ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the case amid claims of improper conduct.
Maduro and opposition both claim to win Venezuela’s presidential election
In a highly watched and highly scrutinized electoral process, Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won the presidential election on Monday, July 29. However, his political opponents have too.
With 80% of votes counted, Maduro is said to have won with more than 51% of the vote, leading electoral authorities to declare him the winner.
However, the opposition claims candidate Edmundo González had received 70% of the vote against Maduro’s 30% and González said all rules were violated. The opposition is demanding electoral authorities present all the voting tallies issued by the voting machines to verify the results.
The United States and multiple regional nations have also voiced skepticism about official results handing victory to Maduro.
The man accused of starting what is now the largest active wildfire in the country is set to appear in a California court on Monday, July 29. The fast-spreading fire near Chico has burned more than 350,000 acres in three days, forcing thousands of people in four counties to leave their homes.
The Park Fire had scorched an area greater than the size of Los Angeles as of Sunday, July 28, causing poor air quality in a large part of the northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
Cooler temperatures and more humidity over the weekend helped firefighters make some progress. They say the fire is now 12% contained.
Apple reaches first-ever union deal with Maryland employees
Apple has reached its first-ever union contract with employees at a Maryland store. The union representing the employees of a store in a Baltimore suburb said it’s reached a tentative three-year deal with Apple to increase pay by an average of 10% and offer other benefits to workers.
The tentative agreement still has to be approved by the store’s 85 workers. A vote is set for Aug. 6.
Team USA wins most medals in Olympics opening weekend
Team USA is off to a strong start at the Paris Olympics, picking up 12 medals over the weekend. That’s the most of any country so far in the games.
USA athletes had won gold three times as of Monday, July 29 morning, including the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, giving Caleb Dressel his eighth gold medal. Torri Huske won the women’s 100m butterfly and Gretchen Walsh took silver, with just four hundredths of a second separating the American athletes.
Lee Kiefer brought home gold in fencing. In gymnastics, Simone Biles made her Olympics return, leading the U.S. Women’s Team into the finals despite suffering a minor calf injury.
On the basketball court, LeBron James led Team USA to victory in their first game, defeating Serbia 110 to 84.
More Iranian-made fast attack craft are in the Western Hemisphere as Venezuela takes possession of a new batch of Peykaap III Class missile boats. Maritime analysts like H. I. Sutton said Iran sent a batch of four Peykaaps to Venezuela last year. Now, video of the boats being operated by Venezuelan sailors are showing up on social media.
Venezuelan navy Zolfaghar (Peykaap III) class missile boats operating in La Ciénaga de Ocumare and being camouflaged against the coastline.#Venezuelapic.twitter.com/eqv4sSO8zt
Peykaap Class boats — also called Zolfaqar Class in Iran — were originally designed in North Korea. Peykaaps come in three basic variations. The Peykaap I is armed with torpedoes, Peykaap IIs can carry two anti-ship missiles and Peykapp IIIs are equipped to carry both. Machine guns are also a common site on the boats as well.
Peykaap IIIs can launch Kowsar and NASR anti-ship missiles. The Kowsars have a range of about 12 miles. NASRs are effective out to about 21 miles. Precision-guided missiles launched from fast attack craft is all someone like Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro would need to disrupt commercial shipping.
A Peykaap craft is just under 60 feet long, and it’s powered by twin diesel engines. It can hit speeds over 50 knots, which is about 57 miles per hour.
Venezuela took possession of the new fast attack craft a few months after the country held a referendum to annex a region in neighboring Guyana known as Essequibo. It’s a rural area that is hard to access and covered in thick rainforests. It also holds vast deposits of oil and rare earth minerals.
When Maduro announced the referendum to seize Essequibo in his country, the international backlash was swift and enough to make Maduro back down.
However, satellite images show Venezuela never stopped improving its access points along the Cuyuní River that separates the two countries. The improvement projects included building new boat ramps and clearing jungle to create staging areas.
Venezuelan troops also continue to train near the river crossings. So, an additional batch of new Iranian-made missile boats isn’t exactly a calming thought for Guyana. The country’s military is not as strong as Venezuela’s, which has arguably one of the most capable militaries in South America.
Guyana and the United States maintain a defensive partnership, and hold joint military exercises on a regular basis. The relationship could impact Maduro’s decision to invade or not.
Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said he’s close to the leaders of both Guyana and Venezuela, and he is working to broker a lasting peace between the two.
“[The situation] is stable,” Gonsalves said. “You still have differences, but the important thing is to have peace, and to talk, and not to fight. They should do that in Ukraine. They should do that in Gaza.”
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on 3/12/2024. In a previous version, the article said Venezuela had, “arguably the strongest military in South America.” The story was updated to say Venezuela has, “arguably one of the strongest militaries in South America.”
Images show Venezuela military buildup along border with oil-rich Guyana
Tensions are escalating between Venezuela and Guyana over claims to the oil-rich region of Essequibo, with both nations accusing each other of violating a recent peace agreement signed in December. Satellite imagery confirms that Venezuela is strengthening its military operations along the disputed border, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Essequibo has been at the center of a territory debate between the countries for decades. Venezuelan government asserts that the land belongs Venezuela, while Guyana’s government maintains it lies within its borders, a stance supported by its allies, like the U.S. However, Venezuela accuses Guyana’s government of allowing the illegal extraction of oil from Essequibo, according to The Associated Press.
These accusations come after Alistair Routledge, the president of ExxonMobil Guyana, informed reporters that concessions had been made by Guyana’s government and the company remains committed to operations despite rising tensions between Guyana and Venezuela.
“We are not going anywhere,” Routledge told reporters Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Venezuela is also accusing ExxonMobil of exploitation and relying on the American military for support. However, the energy giant reiterated its plans to drill two wells in Essequibo, where three refineries already operate and produce nearly 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Following ExxonMobil’s announcement, satellite images from CSIS confirmed that trees had been cleared near the border of Venezuela and Essequibo by the Venezuelan military, and at least six military vehicles, with additional military personnel, are being stationed along the river boundary.
According to the Wall Street Journal, CSIS imagery additionally revealed Venezuelan forces installing two Russian-made anti-aircraft systems and deploying at least three Iranian-made anti-ship guided-missile patrol boats.
Analysts told The Guardian that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s perceived threats may serve as a tactic to rally support for his reelection campaign or to exert pressure on Guyana to share its oil revenue with Venezuela.
Venezuela’s economy is currently struggling to recover from an economic collapse last decade.
In response to Venezuela’s military buildup along the border, Brazil is reportedly deploying troops along its border with Venezuela and Guyana. The U.S. has also announced plans to send military helicopters, drones and radar technology to Guyana.
Robert Persaud, Guyana’s foreign secretary, contends that Venezuela’s aggressive stance constitutes an unprovoked breach of their peace agreement that was signed in December.
“We are not surprised at the bad faith of Venezuela,” Persaud said. “We are disappointed, not surprised. Guyana has a history of entering into bilateral discussions in good faith. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for our neighbor to the west.”
According to CNN, speculation of a possible invasion by Venezuela into Guyana reached its highest point yet in December. Venezuelan voters reportedly approved a referendum that declared Essequibo a Venezuelan state. Guyana called the move an “existential threat.”
10 Americans, fugitive released in prisoner swap with Venezuela: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 21, 2023
Ten Americans and a fugitive are released from Venezuelan custody as part of a prisoner exchange between the two countries. And two media giants begin talks about a potential merger. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.
10 Americans, fugitive released from Venezuelan custody in prisoner swap
Ten Americans imprisoned in Venezuela have been released as part of a prisoner swap between the two countries on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The White House said six of the Americans were wrongfully detained, and they are now back on U.S. soil.
As we welcome home our fellow citizens, I must also remind all Americans of the long-standing warning against traveling to Venezuela. Americans should not travel there.
President Biden
The deal also included the return of a fugitive known as “Fat Leonard.” Malaysian businessman Leonard Francis fled to Venezuela in 2022 while under house arrest in San Diego after pleading guilty to what is considered to be one of the biggest bribery scandals in U.S. Navy history.
Francis admitted he offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials so they could steer business to his company in Asia. Also, as part of the prisoner exchange, the U.S. freed Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, who was charged with money laundering in Florida in 2019.
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The swap is the latest agreement between the two nations. In October, the U.S. lifted some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry after the country’s government promised to open its 2024 presidential election to opponents of Maduro.
“As we welcome home our fellow citizens, I must also remind all Americans of the long-standing warning against traveling to Venezuela,” President Biden said in a statement following the prisoner swap.” Americans should not travel there.”
Israel says 3 hostages can be heard on video days before accidental shooting
More evidence is being uncovered after three hostages were mistakenly killed by Israeli troops last week in Gaza. The Israeli military said late Wednesday, Dec. 20, that the voices of the three hostages could be heard on video that was recorded approximately five days before the shooting but recovered a few days after.
The military said the video, which has not been released, was captured on a GoPro camera attached to one of its dogs. The dog was sent into a building and was killed by Hamas militants, but the camera kept recording. Israel’s military said its soldiers killed the militants inside the building, and that allowed the hostages to escape. Days later, the three hostages were shot dead by Israeli troops after being mistaken as a threat. The military said it will soon release the results of its investigation into the accidental killing, which it said violated its rules of engagement.
The death of the three hostages prompted renewed calls for a pause in the fighting from many in Israel as well as nations like the United States. On Wednesday, Dec. 20, Hamas leaders arrived in Egypt to talk of another temporary cease-fire and a deal for Hamas to release more Israeli hostages in exchange for imprisoned Palestinians in Israel.
Judge blocks California law banning guns in public places
On Wednesday, Dec. 20, a federal judge blocked a California law that would ban carrying firearms in public places starting on Jan. 1. U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney wrote in his ruling that the law violates the Second Amendment and would “unconstitutionally deprive” people with concealed carry permits of their right to defend themselves and their families.
The law was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in September and would have prohibited guns at places like public parks, playgrounds, zoos, churches, and banks. Judge Carney called the law “repugnant to the Second Amendment and openly defiant of the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the state will appeal the judge’s ruling, adding it “would endanger communities by allowing guns in places where families and children gather.”
Trump asks Supreme Court to stay out of immunity dispute for now
“Haste makes waste” is what former President Trump’s attorneys wrote to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Dec. 20, asking for SCOTUS to let the debate over presidential immunity play out in the lower courts first. The debate revolves around special counsel Jack Smith’s case against the former president, charged with a “criminal scheme” to overturn the 2020 election results.
The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request. This is an extraordinary case.
Jack Smith
Trump’s team argues he cannot be prosecuted for trying to overturn the election and that former presidents cannot face criminal charges for conduct related to their official responsibilities. Last week, Jack Smith urged the high court to rule on Trump’s claim in an expedited manner before lower courts have a chance to rule on it so as not to delay the trial; Smith said the issue is of high public importance.
“The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request,” Smith wrote. “This is an extraordinary case.”
Trump’s team contends this issue must play out in the lower courts first before the Supreme Court steps in. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a trial date is set for March 4th for now. If Trump is reelected on Nov. 5, he could seek to pardon himself of any federal crimes.
Warner Bros. Discovery in talks to merge with Paramount
According to multiple reports, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount are in talks of a potential merger. As first reported by Axios, sources say the CEOs of the two companies met over lunch on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Paramount’s New York City headquarters for several hours, where they discussed the possible deal. The merger between the two media giants would mean combining their streaming services, Max and Paramount+, to compete better with Netflix and Disney+.
Paramount would bring its TV assets like CBS and Nickelodeon to join WBD’s operations, which include CNN and HBO. On the movie front, Warner Bros. Pictures has the DC Universe and Lord of the Ring film franchises. Paramount’s properties include Mission Impossible and Star Trek.
The deal could mean WBD buying Paramount or its Paramount company, National Amusements. Sources said both options are on the table.
‘2024’ display arrives in Times Square for New Year’s Eve ball drop
With only a few days left in the year, New York City is getting ready to ring in 2024, and on Wednesday, Dec. 20, one crucial part of the city’s tradition arrived in Times Square. The numerals “2024” were delivered after the lighted display took a coast-to-coast road trip from California that began earlier this month, covering more than 2,800 miles.
The numbers were tested, ensuring they’d light up the sky when the ball dropped and the clock hit midnight on New Year’s. Before being raised atop Times Square on Friday, Dec. 22, the numerals will remain on display for visitors to see up close.
Venezuela thinks Guyana’s oil-rich land belongs to them. Will they invade?
Venezuela thinks a large part of Guyana doesn’t actually belong to the Guyanese. Tensions over the issue are mounting to the point there could be an official armed conflict between two South American countries for the first time in three decades.
The tensions center on a disputed part of Guyana called Essequibo. Venezuela, a former Spanish colony, said Essequibo was stolen in 1899 and improperly given to Guyana — a former British colony — by an international arbitration tribunal.
The disputed area is about the size of Greece and makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s total land mass. Essequibo is a geographically diverse region full of mountains, valleys, rivers and dense jungle. It’s also rich in natural resources like gold and oil.
The dispute over Essequibo mostly died down over the last century or so, but it renewed in 2015 when ExxonMobil discovered a massive oil deposit off the coast of the Essequibo region. The deposit is large enough to account for around 1% of total global output once extraction begins.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro just held a referendum in Venezuela on which country should control Essequibo. Venezuelan elections aren’t known for integrity, and — even though very few voters were seen on election day at polling locations — Maduro’s regime said more than 10 million votes were cast in favor of Venezuela annexing Essequibo. That could mean ignoring the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, both of which officially recognize Essequibo as Guyana’s sovereign territory. No one living in the disputed territory was given a chance to cast a ballot.
While politicians and pundits pontificate on the likelihood of a Venezuelan invasion into Guyana, military assets in the region are preparing for the possibility.
Brazil’s military said it is intensifying defensive actions along its northern border while monitoring the dispute. Venezuelan forces are also being observed along the border with Guyana, performing their own military drills.
At 123,000 active-duty soldiers, Venezuela’s military is one of Latin America’s largest and much larger than Guyana’s standing army, which totals around 3,000. Venezuela’s military is armed with modern weaponry like armored vehicles, tanks, fighter jets and naval vessels including patrol boats, submarines and landing craft.
Most of the border between Guyana and Venezuela is mountainous. The thick rainforest and waterways in the Essequibo region would make large-scale troop movements difficult. In this type of environment, smaller squads trained in jungle warfare would make more sense than trying to send in a bunch of tanks that would likely get stuck and make easy targets.
Also, Essequibo is a rainforest. So, the jungle’s canopy and unpredictable weather would no doubt impact aerial operations as well. If an invasion does come, an amphibious assault may make the most sense.
Maduro and Venezuela still have many factors to consider before launching an invasion. The country is trying to regain international favor and put an end to some economic sanctions. Both the U.S. and China are financially invested in the oil fields Venezuela wants to take over. Furthermore, Guyana has military agreements in place with the United States, and the two countries have held regular drills together for the past 20 years or so.