Venezuela has expressed concern and declared a state of alert as the United Kingdom sends a warship, HMS Trent, to participate in joint exercises with Guyana’s navy and other allies. The Venezuelan government views this move as a provocation that threatens regional stability, despite recent efforts by both South American nations to de-escalate tensions over a border dispute. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López questioned the warship’s presence in waters that are still subject to demarcation, raising doubts about Guyana’s commitment to peaceful coexistence. The border dispute, ongoing since the 19th century, intensified after a controversial referendum held by the Maduro government to annex a significant portion of Guyana’s territory.

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