The government of Venezuela has informed the Secretary-general of the United Nations of the violation as well as informed Guyana of the unacceptability of its actions.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has announced the measures the country will take against the violation of the sovereignty of its waters by two Exxon Mobil exploration ships. The ships were found by a Venezuelan patrol in waters off the Delta Amarcuro area of Venezuela.

RELATED Cuba And Venezuela Strengthen Health Cooperation Agreement

Arreaza called the event a "flagrant violation of sovereignty" on the part of the two oil exploration ships that were contracted by Guyana. According to the official announcement and question of the ship’s captains, they were granted access to the area by the government of Guyana, to which it has no jurisdiction..

The government of Venezuela has informed the Secretary-general of the United Nations of the violation as well as informed the government of Guyana of the unacceptability of its actions.

The two governments have had tensions in the past over the disputed territory of Esequiba which Venezuela claims as belonging to the Bolivarian Republic, but which is administered by Guyana. The area where the ships were found did not correspond to this disputed area.

Arreaza also made an appeal to the Guyana government to reestablish direct and respectful dialogue on this sensitive matter, while highlighting that the government will always protect its own interests and those of the people, while scrupulously abiding by international law.