‘It would be a bad day for Venezuela’ if they attack Guyana – US Secretary of State Rubio

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio today warned that if Venezuela launches an attack against Guyana or US-owned ExxonMobil’s operations offshore, the Trump administration will respond with aggression.

“It would be a very bad day for Venezuela if they were to attack Guyana and ExxonMobil, it will be a bad week for them, and it would not end well for them,” Rubio stated in response to questions during a press briefing at State House in Guyana.

Rubio is in Guyana, as part of a three-nation tour to the Caribbean. Earlier today, he held discussions with President Dr Irfaan Ali and other officials.

The issue of Venezuela and Guyana’s security was one of the key topics during those discussions.

Acknowledging that Guyana has a difficult challenge on its hands amidst Venezuela’s claims to more than half of its territory, Rubio said to the Guyanese people: “We will not allow illegitimate territorial claims to be an impediment to your dreams and to your right to develop this country…”

He added that the US has the resources required to address any aggression from Guyana’s neighbouring State.

“We have a big navy and it can get anywhere in the world and we have commitments that exist with Guyana and we want to build on those, expand on those…but suffice it to say that if that regime is to do anything like that, it would be a very bad move, a big mistake for them,” Rubio said.

Venezuela has breached orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as well as the principles of the Argyle Declaration signed by the two countries in 2023.

The latest acts of aggression towards Guyana include the incursion of a Venezuelan naval vessel into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in early March and the announcement by the Spanish speaking country to hold an election in Essequibo – Guyana’s territory – on May 25, 2025.