America's backyard is not at peace either!Venezuela recently held a highly unusual referendum, which resulted in the annexation of about 2 3 of the territory of neighboring Guyana to Venezuela.
The results of this referendum show that more than 95% of Venezuelan citizens are in favor of this plan. This is a direct reversal of our traditional view of territorial expansion and a break with some internationally accepted norms.
The referendum covered voters across Venezuela, who were almost overwhelmingly in favor of annexing the Essequibo River region adjacent to eastern Guyana.
This area covers about two-thirds of Guyana's land area and is the richest and most densely populated region in the country. When the results of the vote were released, it shocked the world, and many experts questioned its legitimacy.
If the results of the referendum of the domestic people can be legitimized, then can our country also directly take back Taiwan through the form of a referendum?
Unlike the Russian referendum in eastern Ukraine, this referendum in Venezuela did not go through any military occupation beforehand, and it was not the local residents who voted in the vote, but its own citizens!This is a complete violation of the principle of "the right of peoples to self-determination".
Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo River region dates back to the 19th century, when it was part of a Spanish colony.
After its independence from Spain in 1811, Venezuela claimed the right to inherit Spanish territories, including the Essequibo River region. But de facto control has long been in British hands.
Britain has used its great power to veto Venezuela's sovereignty claims on several occasions. In 1966, when Britain finally withdrew from Guyana, Venezuela seemed to have an opportunity to reassert its territorial claims, but it was impossible to achieve them with US intervention.
Today, Guyana is a small country with a population of only 800,000 and a military force of about 3,000 people, but its economy is very developed. However, Venezuela's economy is very backward, and the standard of living of the people is far from being comparable to that of Guyana.
It is precisely for this reason that Venezuela wants to annex the territory of Guyana through a referendum and seize its rich resources.
At that time, a large amount of oil resources were discovered in the Essequibo River region, with preliminary estimates of reserves exceeding 13 billion barrels worth trillions of dollars.
This has provided tremendous economic opportunities for Guyana's already poor citizens. Venezuela is also clearly optimistic about the prospects here, hoping to control oil resources to improve the difficult situation in the country.
Currently, Venezuela is facing economic sanctions from the United States, with high inflation in the country and many people living below the hunger line. Oil in the Essequibo region will undoubtedly provide an economic lifeline.
As far as the current situation is concerned, Venezuela faces less pressure for external intervention. The United States is busy with the war in Ukraine, and the South American powerhouse Brazil is also focused on domestic economic development.
Venezuela has the most powerful army in South America, and Guyana is small and weak, and at most it will delay for a while but it will be difficult to change the outcome, so Venezuela wants to take advantage of the chaos.
Venezuela is also advocating annexation and supporting actions. Therefore, if Venezuela is determined to send troops to occupy the Essequibo River region, now is the best time. By holding a referendum first and then sending troops, it may be possible to gain a certain degree of legitimacy under international law.
But apparently the United States has not given up on Guyana, and the United States is going to conduct military Xi with Guyana as a warning to Venezuela. Venezuela was not frightened by this and decided to visit Russia.
In short, Venezuela's actions today have clearly set the backyard of the United States on fire, and we will wait and see how the situation develops in the future