Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) – Guyana is failing to respond decisively to Venezuela’s escalating aggression. That was the stark warning from former Ambassador Ronald Austin, CCH, during the March 16, 2025 edition of Nation Watch with Mervyn Williams.
Austin pointed to Venezuela’s recent military actions, including its naval incursion into Guyana’s waters, the construction of a bridge into Guyanese territory, and the militarization of the eastern half of Ankoko Island. He warned that President Nicolás Maduro is “riding a tiger and he can’t get off”, suggesting Venezuela’s internal crises may push Maduro toward further hostilities.
Despite these threats, Austin argued, Guyana’s response has been weak, uncoordinated, and ineffective. He questioned whether the government had ramped up diplomatic efforts, trained new diplomats, or prepared the country for possible conflict.
“The real question is, what are we doing?” Austin asked. “Apart from statements of support from friendly governments, what are we doing to defend our territorial integrity?”
Williams reinforced this, highlighting the government’s silence in the face of mounting aggression. “Guyana as a nation is under-informed about the developments,” he said, criticizing the lack of public engagement and national strategy.
Austin agreed. “The worrisome thing is that all of these allegations against us go without a response,” he said, referring to Maduro’s repeated false claims that Guyana is the aggressor. He warned that ignoring these accusations only emboldens Venezuela’s narrative on the global stage.
The discussion took a more alarming turn when Williams raised Venezuela’s plan to hold elections for a “Governor of Essequibo” on May 25, 2025—a move aimed at formalizing its claim over Guyana’s territory.
Austin said Guyana appears unprepared to counteract this threat, especially in border regions where Venezuelan propaganda is already circulating. He emphasized the urgent need for education campaigns in indigenous communities, warning that Venezuela could exploit family ties and migration patterns along the frontier.
Williams then shifted to Guyana’s military preparedness, or lack thereof. He pointed out the disbanding of the Guyana National Service, the weakening of reserve forces, and the reduction in strength at military frontier posts.
Austin raised an even more pressing concern: why Guyana’s military failed to detect the Venezuelan naval vessel before it entered Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. “Why did the GDF not pick it up?” he asked. Williams pushed further: “And if they did, what would they have done?”
Attention turned to the role of the United States, with both men cautioning against over-reliance on American intervention. Austin noted that while the U.S. has strongly supported Guyana since 2015, its interests are not permanent. He pointed to Venezuela’s massive oil reserves and the U.S. history of strategic engagement with Caracas, warning that Washington’s priorities could shift.
Williams raised a blunt question: “What if the importance of Guyana’s oil reduces dramatically in the short term? Would the American interest still be as strong as it is today?”
Austin agreed. “We cannot put all our eggs in one basket.” He urged Guyana to diversify its diplomatic efforts, particularly in the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, where support from African nations could be crucial.
In closing, Williams called the government’s inaction “frightening”, questioning why it aggressively pursues critics at home while showing no zeal in defending the country’s territory. Austin lamented that Guyana’s lack of strategic planning, intelligence gathering, and military readiness could come at a high cost.
“The atmosphere is getting heated and tense,” he warned. “Something is going to happen.”
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