Why Venezuela is Preparing to Conquer Guyana

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Special thanks to MapTiler, OpenStreetMap Contributors, and GEOlayers

[xanthespace]

Already feels a bit outdated, considering the latest developments...
Edit: for anyone who hasn't heard, Venezuelan and Guayana's leaders met a few days ago and Venezuela agreed not to escalate or use force to solve the dispute. In a way, all this was very convenient bluster for Maduro to jail more opposition at home and drum up some national fervor for his regime.

Of course promises don't mean much these days, but let's be real, Venezuela has less capacity for actual leverage here. No nukes to threaten anyone, absolutely no logistics to sustain an invasion, the Americans very nearby...
Edit 2: quite a few people have been bringing up cases like Russia promising not to invade, but it's not about the promises, it's the ability to violate them without the significant consequences, sort of. The Russians expected a quick victory and that everyone would forget about it and move on. Now, as Russia's setting itself up for a long war, their strategy is just to wait the West out. 140 million population, significant military production capacity still (though sanctions do hurt), nukes to hold off other great powers intervening. Again, what the hell does Venezuela have? The Russians certainly can't spare anything to help anyway. If the US suddenly collapsed tomorrow, yeah, maybe Venezuela would invade Guyana

[cheeseit]

Venezuela has been absolutely destroyed over the decades. For those lucky enough to have travelled there before this slow death, it’s been nothing but a crime. Caracas was so prosperous and beautiful. The country was such a wonderful place. Very safe, sophisticated, arts, MUSIC, culture, welcoming people, nightlife, restaurants, beaches- a holiday in Venezuela was like heaven. I just can’t understand why this had to happen.

[CarlosRomero]

As a Venezuelan, our government does not represent our people. Maduro is a man acting on his own accord separate from anything actual Venezuelans would want. I hope the best for the people of Guyana 🇻🇪 ❤ 🇬🇾

[anfarneeharris]

As a Guyanese living in Guyana I can say that we never took it that serious (the people i.e). It was concerning but we never really felt threatened. This area isn't just rich in oil. Guyana has some of the highest quality gold and diamonds in the Essequibo region. We are concerned of how welcoming our government is to Venezuelans, adding spanish to our licenses and stores, our defense force bases, etc. Let's see what happens though. Oh and the taxing the oil companies is laughable, check your facts on that. Great vid though you get a like from me.

[Sir.T]

I'm Guyanese living in England. I doubt Venezuela would try such an invasion because they'll be setting themselves up for fail. Guyana is also part of the commonwealth. So Britain would back Guyana, not to mention Brazil & the US getting involved. Plus Venezuela's current situation in their country is collapsing, they won't have the funds or resources to take on such a war.

[emred]

a country making an election for "yall should we take over this country?" sounds pretty funny

[ronald]

As a Guyanese who has also lived in Venezuela, I think your analysis is spot on and your facts are definitely well researched and authentic.
The presidents of Guyana and Venezuela recently met in St Vincent and agreed not to use force to settle the dispute.
Also a few days ago, Britain decided to send a warship to conduct military exercises along Guyana's coast. This a clear message that Britain will not tolerate any incursion.

[simonegaetani]

I don't always agree with your final takes, but you draw a fantastic wider picture every time. Well done!

[gianmarcoa]

This is such a beautifully made video. Love how you explain current internacional disputes with the historical background in such an engaging way. These kinds of videos are the reason why I adore youtube so much.

[arturmonteiro]

Knowing the road goes through Brazil is interesting. The Brazilian state that borders Venezuela is called Roraima, it is the most isolated and least populated state in the country, the people there do not exactly have the best relations with Venezuela/ Venezuelans, the massive wave of refugees was incredibly difficult for the state to handle, and many people just expelled Venezuelans over the border until the government began relocating people to other states. The road also goes through the capital and only city in the state too, Boa Vista, which has around 419, 000 people, it is this sort of thing which is why Roraima is such a "right-wing leaning" state when it comes to politics, they were the state with the highest percentage of votes for Bolsonaro in the 2022 election. I wonder how they will react to this.

[raymiemiller]

This is really scary from an environmental standpoint, as Guyana has some of the world's most pristine remaining rainforests and the idea that that area may be plunged into chaos is frightening for many species which have found their last refuge in the region.

[bizmen]

Thank you! The historical info was very helpful in understanding everything!

[leonex]

As a Venezuelan economist I would say that the hypothesis of this just being a feint to improve popularity is more feasable. Venezuelan government's greatest interest is to stay in power. An invasion to Guyana is too much risky for them to be actually serious on the matter. But they (the government) need to be actually rational about it and, sadly, we can assure this government is not rational at all, therefore I cannot reject the invasion at all (even if they already agree to not do it). On the other hand, as a Venezuelan I understand the feeling of my compratiots of considering the Essequibo as ours. Nonetheless, it is really a nonesense to think of adding that piece of land to the country. It is habitated by people with a really different culture from Venezuelans'.

[yuyaplays]

I love how the us and brazil both almost immediately moved their own forces in to place to send Venezuela a very firm "try it and see what happens" kind of message.

[DavidFillion]

In addition, The natives to the Esequiba region do not see themselves as Venezuelans in Culture, Language, Politics, etc. They align with Guyana, and have representation in the Guyana Government as well, which I doubt will Happen if Venezuela takes over.

[SamuelJoyner]

Love how you used Civilization images over the years on your channel. Love your channel. Keep up the great work.

[marengoczar]

Venezuela has one of the biggest oil reserves they can't even utilize now.

[righteousone]

I am so tired of these wars, it's like people love to feel the misery.
I am also from Ukraine, and I have spent countless hours examining other wars in other countries in the past and in modern times. All this makes me really sad and gets me nauseous.
Just watching humans destabilize their countries for next 3 decades in a blink of an eye.
From Africa, to Europe, to Latin America. It's like everyone got an itch to destroy their own economy, for a hypothetical profit by destroying another economy.

...

[Suddenly-Eggs]

Oil has been causing problems for 150 years.

[dankuser]

Part of me genuinely wants to see Venezuela try, because there is a real possibility this goes about as well as Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait…