In response to the tensions over Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Esequibo region, a convoy of military trucks and armored vehicles was dispatched to Brazil’s northern border on Friday in order to reinforce the presence of the Brazilian army.
According to the army, more than two dozen armored cars arrived in Manaus by river transport, and some of them left by road for Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima state, where the local garrison is set to be increased to 600 soldiers.
The army revealed that the reinforced armored vehicles include six Cascavel, eight Guarani, and 14 Guaicuru. The heavier armored cars were transported on flatbed trailer trucks.
It remains uncertain whether the vehicles will remain in Boa Vista or be deployed to Pacaraima, which is located on the border with Venezuela.
The border conflict pertains to a 160,000 square kilometer (62,000 square miles) region of Guyana, which is larger than the size of Ireland and mainly consists of thick jungle.
Venezuela has resurrected an old claim to Esequibo in recent years following the discovery of large oil and gas deposits offshore.
Although Venezuela and Guyana committed in December not to use force or escalate tension in the dispute at a meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela’s resurgence of its claim prompted Brazil to declare that it would not allow Venezuela to use Brazilian territory in Roraima to invade Esequibo, as there is no other land route through the jungle.
According to a report by the Brazilian military Joint Chiefs of Staff, Venezuela lacks the military capability to invade Esequibo due to its “little logistical capacity” to support missions over the border. It stated that Brazil has a contingency plan in place to prevent any Venezuelan military incursion against Guyana passing through Brazilian territory.
Overall, the report concluded that a clash between Brazil’s two neighbors is unlikely as a peaceful solution seems to be emerging. However, Brazil remains vigilant in ensuring the protection of its territory and interests.
(Reporting by Bruno Kelly, Ricardo Brito and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
