Venezuela, Guyana tensions rise over disputed oil-rich region

Tensions rose between Venezuela and Guyana as Caracas proposed a bill to create a Venezuelan province in a disputed oil-rich region. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro proposed the creation of a "Guyana Esequiba" province, and ordered the state oil company to issue licenses for extracting crude there. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali called Maduro's statements a "direct threat" and rejected the measures. The dispute intensified since ExxonMobil discovered oil in Essequibo in 2015. Guyana had asked the International Court of Justice to block the controversial non-binding referendum, but the court urged Venezuela to take no action that might affect the disputed territory.