‘If They Attack...’: Guyana, Home To Two Lakh Hindus, Gets US Security Boost Amid Venezuelan Threats
Without naming Venezuela, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if they attack Guyana it would not end well.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela on Wednesday of consequences — and hinted at military force — if the country moves against oil-rich neighbor Guyana.
“If they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil," Rubio said, “it would be a very bad day — a very bad week — for them. It would not end well."
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Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said Thursday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised US support for his oil-rich South American nation’s sovereignty in the face of threats from neighboring Venezuela.
“I’m very pleased at the reassurance of the US, ensuring the safeguard of our territorial integrity and sovereignty," Ali told a joint news conference, saying that the two discussed Venezuela.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in 2023 ordered state-owned companies to begin extracting oil, gas, and minerals from Guyana’s Essequibo region after a referendum seeking to reclaim the 61,600-square-mile (159,500-square-kilometre) territory. Essequibo, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana, borders Brazil and is nearly the size of Greece.
Guyana holds deep cultural roots, particularly for Hindus. With a Hindu population of 200,000-250,000, it is the only nation in the Western Hemisphere with a sizable Hindu community, according to Pew Research Centre and Encyclopedia.com. Essequibo itself has a strong Hindu presence, with 37% of its population following the faith as per 2012 data.
Reports from Guyana-based Stabroek News and Newsroom Guyana highlight the community’s active role in cultural and religious events. From hosting yagnas and festivals to winning top honours at the annual Diwali motorcade contest in Georgetown, Essequibo’s Hindu heritage remains vibrant.
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