Venezuela recalls Guyana ambassador over territorial dispute

CARACAS, Venezuela, July 7 (UPI) -- President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro recalled his ambassador to neighboring Guyana over escalating territorial disputes stemming from a significant oil discovery.

The ambassador, Reyna Margarita Arratia, was recalled for consultation. Maduro made the announcement at Venezuela's National Assembly on Monday, adding that a reduction of the size of the Venezuelan embassy in Guyana is also possible.

"Venezuela is coming under new forms of assault and aggression," Maduro said. "This is a grave, dangerous situation that we must combat with national unity."

Maduro issued a decree in May arguing that Venezuela's territory includes the Atlantic waters off Guyana's Essequibo Coast, as part of a territorial dispute dating back to the 19th century. Exxon Mobil Corp. recently announced a discovery of 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone with further potential.

CARICOM, an organization of 15 Caribbean nations, rejected Maduro's decree and sided with Guyana.

President of Guyana David Granger said he was "not surprised" by Maduro's recent move "because [Maduro] has been confronted with rejection of his decree by the entire Caribbean community so he is just increasing the isolation of his government from the region."

Nearly all CARICOM members benefit from Venezuela's oil-rich industry, causing the recent disputes to remain tempered.

"CARICOM stands firmly behind Guyana," chairman Freundel Stuart recently said. "We do not think that there can be any compromise so far as Guyana's territorial borders is concerned."