In response to renewed tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over a territorial dispute, the United Kingdom has announced its decision to divert a Royal Navy warship to the waters off Guyana. The patrol vessel, HMS Trent, will conduct engagements in the region later this month, according to the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The move comes as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro once again asserted his country's century-old claim to Guyana's oil-rich Essequibo region. However, both nations have recently agreed not to resort to force in resolving the dispute.

The MoD issued a brief statement, stating that HMS Trent will visit its regional ally and Commonwealth partner, Guyana, during its Atlantic patrol task deployment. The vessel, currently in Barbados for Christmas, will then head towards the mainland of Guyana.

Notably, the warship will not be able to dock in Guyana's capital, Georgetown, due to the port's shallow depth. Nevertheless, this deployment is seen as a show of diplomatic and military support for the former British colony, as reported by the BBC.

David Rutley, a UK foreign minister, visited Guyana earlier this month and reiterated the importance of respecting sovereign borders. Rutley further stated that the UK would work internationally to uphold the territorial integrity of Guyana.

Venezuela's claim over Essequibo, which constitutes approximately two-thirds of Guyana's territory, has long been a point of contention. The tension escalated after Guyana issued licenses for oil companies to operate in the region, which has been under its governance for over a century.

President Maduro's government conducted a controversial referendum on December 3, where officials claimed that 95 percent of voters supported declaring Venezuela the rightful owner of Essequibo. As a result, Maduro initiated legal measures to establish a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and directed the state oil company to issue licenses for oil extraction in the disputed region.

The British deployment of HMS Trent underscores the UK's commitment to supporting Guyana in this territorial dispute. With the warship's arrival imminent, the region awaits the outcome of the engagements and whether diplomatic solutions can be reached to maintain stability in this longstanding dispute.