US rejects Venezuela’s sham elections over Guyana’s Essequibo territory

In the face of Venezuela’s planned so-called elections today to appoint a governor for Guyana’s Essequibo region, the United States has once again reiterated support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the US Department of State, Michael Kozak, in a brief statement on today (Sunday, May 25, 2025) denounced the actions of the Nicholas Maduro-led Venezuelan regime.

“The United States rejects all attempts by Nicolas Maduro and his illegitimate regime to undermine Guyana’s territorial integrity, including this latest sham election in the Essequibo region,” Kozak said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The United States has been a strong supporter of Guyana’s territorial integrity.

Only back in March, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was in Georgetown and issued a stern warning to the Maduro regime.

More recently, however, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, reaffirmed her government’s willingness to support the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to combat growing threats from Venezuela.

Earlier this month, the GDF reported multiple armed attacks on its river patrols between May 13 and 15 by men in civilian clothing on the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River, between Eteringbang and Makapa – areas that form part of the border between Guyana and Venezuela.

Ambassador Theriot described the gang’s recent attacks on GDF patrols as “acts of aggression” by criminals and declared that the United States is fully aligned with Guyana in ensuring peace, security, and the protection of its territorial integrity.

The incidents have heightened tensions in a region already strained by Venezuela’s escalating rhetoric and controversial plans to hold so-called elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region on May 25, a move the U.S. and international community have roundly condemned.

In fact, visits to several hinterland communities in Guyana along the border with Venezuela showed that there are no election activities happening.