White House: No Sign Venezuela Is Preparing For Military Action

White House national security communications adviser, John Kirby, has told reporters that the administration sees no signs that Venezuela is preparing to undertake military operation against Guyana, after an increase of military activity on the border of the disputed, oil rich, Essequibo region.

• Kirby: "We've obviously been monitoring this closely... our assessment is that whatever military movements there have been by Venezuela have been of a very small nature in size, and, scale, and scope. We seen no indication there are about to be hostilities or that the Venezuelan military would be capable of conducting any significant military activities there."
• AP reported yesterday: "Venezuela said it would reserve the right to take any diplomatic actions necessary. The comments Sunday came after Guyana said Saturday that it has satellite imagery showing Venezuelan military movements near the South American country’s eastern border with Guyana."
• In April, the Biden administration is expected to reapply sanctions on the Venezuelan oil sector which were temporarily eased in October after the signing of an democratic roadmap.