Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today said the deployment of a British Navy vessel to the coast of Guyana, is not a threat to neighbouring Venezuela, nor is it in breach of the Argyle declaration since the move forms part of Guyana’s efforts to enhance its defence capabilities. 

Caracas has rejected the British Navy vessel’s deployment to Guyana, stating that the move is a violation of the Argyle Declaration, which followed the meeting between the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela in St. Vincent.

Vice President Jagdeo said the military exercises with the United Kingdom were long planned.

“A lot of these measures were long planned and they are routine and they are part of our building a defensive capability. Nothing that we do or have done, has threatened Venezuela, we don’t plan on invading Venezuela, President Maduro knows this and he need not to have any worry about that and that assurance was given to him in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the Vice President stated.

According to the Vice President, the President has been in touch with St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, making it clear that Guyana supports the Argyle Declaration and that Guyana would do nothing that will harm or affect Venezuela and its territory. 

He made clear that before the Argyle meeting, Guyana made it clear that it has no aggressive intent, and that position still stands.

“We don’t have any plans to take offensive actions against Venezuela, whatever we do here has been routine and long planned and its part of us building a defensive capability in Guyana, not necessarily to fight wars but to police better our Exclusive Economic Zone and our territorial integrity and sovereignty Mr. Jagdeo said.

Mr. Jagdeo said the President has not ordered the withdrawal of the vessel from Guyana’s waters, since its presence forms part of military training that Guyana has conducted before with its international partners.

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