Guyana says it gave permission for the US military to fly 2 powerful jets over the capital

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s government said Thursday it has authorized the US military to fly two powerful F/A-18F Super Hornet jets over the capital to further strengthen close military and other cooperation between the oil-exporting South American country and the United States to demonstrate.

The country had been notified of the exercise about three hours in advance through an announcement from the US embassy, ​​but most people appeared to be taken aback by the noisy and unprecedented overflight that comes amid simmering tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over a much of Guyana’s territory.

A statement from the Guyanese government said the “exercise aims to deepen ongoing security cooperation between our two countries,” but both sides steered clear of any reference to moves by neighboring Venezuela to consolidate the oil and mineral-rich Essequibo region. annex.

President Nicolás Maduro recently signed a law annexing the region. The US has made clear that it supports Guyana in the ongoing dispute and helped conduct surveillance flights to Guyana late last year when Venezuela threatened to invade the country.

The military exercise came just a day after U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Julie Nethercot visited Guyana for talks on “deterring aggression, defeating threats and rapidly responding to crises,” as the Florida-based U.S. Southern Command reiterated unwavering support for Guyana.

Guyana is awaiting a decision from the World Court on Venezuela’s claim to the region, but Venezuela has said it does not recognize the court and will ignore its decision when it is handed down.