Guyana's President Irfaan Ali told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his country is taking every necessary step to protect itself from a potential incursion by Venezuela, which has ordered its state-owned companies to explore and exploit oil and minerals in Guyana's vast Essequibo region that it considers its own.
When asked if he has requested military assistance, Ali said his government is reaching out to allies and regional partners, some of which Guyana has defense agreements with, to protect the Essequibo region, which makes up two-thirds of the country.
