“It will be a very bad day for Venezuelan if they attack Guyana or ExxonMobil”—Rubio declares
Mar 28, 2025
By Renay Sambach
Kaieteur News- United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a strong warning to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro regime, stating that any aggression against Guyana or American oil giant, ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyanese waters would have serious repercussions.
United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio
Speaking at a press conference at State House in Georgetown on Thursday alongside President Irfaan Ali, Rubio reaffirmed America’s commitment to Guyana’s security.
“The regional threats based on illegitimate territorial claims by a narco-trafficking regime, and I want to be frank, and I’ve said this during my time as a senator, and I have full confidence in saying it now as a secretary of state, there will be consequences for adventurism, there will be consequences for aggressive action,” Rubio said in his opening remarks.
Venezuela has long laid claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, the resource rich Essequibo region. The Guyana-Venezuela border controversy is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Despite a December 2023 agreement between President Ali and Venezuelan President Maduro committing to regional peace, on March 1, 2025, a Venezuelan naval vessel entered Guyana’s waters and approached Exxon’s Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operating in the oil-rich Stabroek Block and radioed that the FPSO was operating in disputed territory.
When asked if the U.S. would offer military assistance to Guyana in the event of an attack from Venezuela, Rubio did not give specifics but was unequivocal in his warning to the Maduro regime. “It will be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime. If they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil or anything like, it would be a very bad day or very bad week for them, and it will not end well for them,” he responded.
The U.S. official outlined the strength of American military capabilities, and suggested that Venezuela avoid making any hostile moves. “I think the US Navy today is making it clear and demonstrating our ability to, we have a big Navy, and it can get almost anywhere, and can get anywhere in the world,” Rubio said. Notably, Guyana has remained steadfast in its position to relying on international law and diplomacy to resolve the border controversy with its neighbour Venezuela. President Ali has previously stated that while Guyana is committed to peace, the country will defend its territorial integrity.
(“It will be a very bad day for Venezuelan if they attack Guyana or ExxonMobil”—Rubio declares)
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