AS tensions escalate along the Guyana-Venezuela border  once again, Guyana finds itself at a critical juncture, one where sovereignty, international law and national security intersect in profound and urgent ways.

The recent attacks on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) patrols by armed civilians on the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River represent yet another reckless provocation that demands strong and unified national resolve, as well as continued international scrutiny.

Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan was unequivocal in his response: Guyana’s military is not only equipped and prepared for any escalation, but it has already heightened operational readiness.

The Cuyuni River is not contested territory, it is Guyanese land and the GDF has both the legal right and moral responsibility to patrol and defend it.

The brazenness of these recent incursions, three separate attacks (between May 13 and 15) must not be downplayed.

The fact that these armed aggressors were in civilian clothing only adds a sinister layer to the tactics being employed.

According to Brigadier Khan, Baboon, a known Venezuelan base for extortion and criminal activities along the river, has long operated as a lawless zone.

Now, with these attacks, it appears that aggression has evolved into a direct challenge to Guyana’s territorial integrity.

It is encouraging that the GDF’s swift response and increased presence have brought reassurance to residents in bordering communities.

These areas, often isolated and vulnerable, deserve the assurance of state protection now more than ever. Thirteen villages dot the Cuyuni River, and it is commendable that the GDF has a presence in nearly all of them, even as patrols continue to plug the gaps and deter any illegal crossings or hostilities.

The Guyana government has taken the right step in condemning the attacks through diplomatic channels, calling on Venezuela to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators.

But as history has shown, appeals to reason or diplomacy have rarely deterred Venezuela’s expansionist ambitions, particularly under the Maduro regime.

Indeed, this is not an isolated episode. It is part of a broader and increasingly aggressive posture from Venezuela. Just two months ago, on March 1, a Venezuelan naval vessel brazenly entered Guyana’s exclusive economic zone, issuing threats near the FPSO Prosperity.

The move was not only a violation of international law, but a clear threat to Guyana’s economic lifeblood, its offshore oil operations.

That incident rightly drew sharp condemnation from CARICOM, the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, and global partners including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Guyana has remained consistent in its strategy — peaceful but firm resistance, backed by recourse to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

That is the path of responsible statehood. The ICJ has already asserted its jurisdiction in the border matter and has ruled that Venezuela must refrain from altering the status quo pending a final decision.

Venezuela’s provocative efforts to hold elections in Essequibo on May 25 violate that order and represent a direct threat not only to Guyana’s sovereignty, but to international judicial authority.

Brigadier Khan’s warning that any Guyanese participating in these elections will be arrested, and any Venezuelans involved will be deported, is harsh but necessary.

It signals that Guyana is prepared to act decisively against attempts to subvert its territorial control from within.

At this moment, Guyana must remain vigilant. National unity, robust diplomacy, and regional solidarity are paramount. But so too is the unwavering readiness of the GDF, whose mandate to defend every inch of Guyanese soil is not just a constitutional requirement, but a patriotic duty.

We commend the soldiers who continue to patrol our remote frontiers and stand as sentinels of our national dignity.

And we urge the international community to continue standing with Guyana, not just with words, but with tangible diplomatic pressure to ensure that lawlessness does not prevail over lawful order.

Essequibo is Guyana. The Cuyuni River is Guyana. And all Guyanese must speak with one voice in asserting that truth, now and always.