Venezuela calls U.S. military drill in Guyana a 'provocation' and says the country has become a 'colony'

A Venezuelan frigate carrying the message "Essequibo is ours" conducts military exercises near the border with Guyana (Credit: AFP)

The Venezuelan government called the military drills of two U.S. planes in Guyana a "provocation" and said the country has "become a new colony" of the North American country.

"The Bolivarian Navy strongly rejects the reiterated provocations by the U.S. Southern Command and approved by the government of Guyana, which has become a new American Colony," said Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López. He added that the country's defense systems are "activated against any attempt to breach the Venezuelan geographical space."