Venezuelans going to the polls Sunday will be asked to answer an unusually provocative question: Should their government be given a blank check to invade neighboring Guyana, and wrest away three-quarters of its oil-rich territory?

The government of Nicolás Maduro is putting the query before voters, part of a century-old territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana that is raising tensions in the region and threatening to escalate into a shooting war.

    • chowder@lemmy.oneEnglish
      32·
      11 months ago

      The UK has disputes there, not the US. Either way the aggressor would be Venezuela.

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        152·
        11 months ago

        The US considers all of South America within its sphere of influence.

        That said, I’m inclined to agree with @nicetriangle that this is just Russian bullshit and and doubt anything will actually happen.

        • Transporter Room 3English
          45·
          11 months ago

          If it did, I’m sure the US would graciously step in to ensure stability and promote democracy, and not at all to secure US oil interests.

          Totally.

    • slaacaa@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      11 months ago

      MIC executives already popping viagra and browsing yacht magazines, thinking about future bonuses.

  • LilB0kChoy@lemm.eeEnglish
    194·
    11 months ago

    We had three families in our neighborhood, all related, that the parents/grandparents were from Guyana and the kids were born here.

    I can’t speak for the country but those people were awesome! Super friendly, nice, hard working but most of all happy to share and explain their culture.

    • Black616Angel@feddit.deEnglish
      1113·
      11 months ago

      What is your comment supposed to mean?

      I can’t speak for the country but those people were awesome!

      If they were assholes, would you just bomb their country? Wtf?

      • EurekaStockade@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        11 months ago

        That’s a pretty uncharitable interpretation, the commenter is just saying they otherwise don’t know have any experience with the country

        • LilB0kChoy@lemm.eeEnglish
          61·
          11 months ago

          Bingo! I can’t believe I have to defend sharing my positive, limited, anecdotal experience with Guyanese people and culture.

      • LilB0kChoy@lemm.eeEnglish
        5·
        11 months ago

        What is your comment supposed to mean?

        It’s supposed to mean I can’t speak for the country or all the Guyanese people based on my limited, anecdotal experience with one family.

        I’m not informed on the regional geopolitics, I’ve never been there. Hell, I had to look up the appropriate demonym because I couldn’t remember if it was Guyanese or Guyanan.

        It makes me sad to see this and think that people who were so nice and exposed me to Guyanese culture, a country I hadn’t even known existed and would have guessed was in South Asia, might see their cultural home attacked.

        It’s supposed to mean I don’t know what I don’t know and I’m not comfortable making assumptions or inferences when I’m not informed.

        Seems like that’s not a problem you have.

  • justaveg@lemmy.worldEnglish
    151·
    11 months ago

    So is it safe to assume this isn’t going to be a free and fair vote?

    • nicetriangle@kbin.social
      4·
      11 months ago

      Yeah that’s my hunch on it as well. There’s been a number of articles in the last few months signaling closer ties with Russia and Maduro.

      I’m of the opinion that the Gaza thing was spun up in part to create a distraction away from Ukraine and therefore divide available media attention and military resources. This looks a lot like an attempt to do that again.