U.S., Guyana to launch joint maritime patrols near disputed Venezuela border

The United States and Guyana will begin joint maritime patrols aimed at drug interdiction near the South American country's disputed border with crisis-stricken Venezuela, the U.S. secretary of state and Guyana's new president said on Friday. The agreement comes as U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp, as part of a consortium with Hess Corp and China's CNOOC Ltd, ramps up crude output from Guyana's massive offshore Stabroek block, a large portion of which is in waters claimed by Venezuela. "Greater security, greater capacity to understand your border space, what's happening inside your Exclusive Economic Zone - those are all things that give Guyana sovereignty," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a joint appearance with newly-installed Guyanese President Irfaan Ali.

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