In the midst of mounting tensions over a disputed oil-rich region between Guyana and Venezuela, the United States has announced plans for joint military flight drills with Guyana. This development comes as the United Nations Security Council schedules an urgent meeting to address the escalating situation.

The American embassy in Guyana stated that the US Southern Command, in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force, will conduct flight operations on December 7. The purpose of these drills, according to the embassy, is to enhance the security partnership between the two countries under routine engagement.

At the center of the dispute is the Essequibo region, which has been controlled by Guyana for over a century but is also claimed by Venezuela. The conflict has intensified since ExxonMobil discovered oil in the area in 2015. Venezuela's Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, denounced the planned military flight drills as a "provocation" and warned against diverting from their actions for the recovery of Essequibo.

With litigation pending before the International Court of Justice in The Hague to determine the region's borders, Guyana's Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd, has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. The council's closed-door meeting on Friday will discuss the dispute over Essequibo.

The border tensions have garnered international attention, with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressing growing concern and suggesting the involvement of multilateral bodies such as ECLAC and UNASUR to seek a peaceful solution. Brazil has also reinforced its presence in northern cities to guarantee the territory's inviolability.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, gaining overwhelming support in a recent referendum on Essequibo's fate, has increased pressure on Guyana by proposing a bill to create a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and ordering the state oil company to issue licenses for extracting crude in the region. Maduro has also given an ultimatum to oil companies operating under concessions issued by Guyana to halt operations within three months.

Amid these developments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States' unwavering support for Guyana's sovereignty and called for a peaceful resolution during a phone call with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali.

As tensions continue to rise in the region, Guyana's armed forces are on high alert and maintaining communication with partners, including the United States. The recent arrest of an American citizen, Savoi Jadon Wright, by Venezuela on accusations of conspiring with ExxonMobil to stop the referendum, further adds to the complexity of the situation.

The upcoming joint military flight drills between the United States and Guyana will undoubtedly be closely watched by all parties involved as the dispute over Essequibo and the quest for a peaceful resolution remain at the forefront of regional concerns.