Venezuelan army deploys armored vehicles at the Guyanese border following U.S. drills

Tension has soared over Essequibo, which has historically been controlled by Guyana, since Maduro's government held a controversial referendum last weekend in which 95 percent of voters supported declaring Venezuela its rightful owner, according to official results. (Credit: AFP)

The Venezuelan army beefed up its presence near the Essequibo, a region controlled by Guyana that Caracas claims as its own.

According to outlet Escenario Mundial, the Bolivarian Armed Forces built a makeshift bridge over the Cuyuni River, close to the border, and deployed armored vehicles there.