Venezuela’s Dangerous Play in Essequibo and Lessons from Turkey
December 25, 2023
by İmdat Öner, published on 25 December 2023
In early December, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro held a referendum, seeking public opinion on the potential inclusion of the sparsely populated Essequibo region of Guyana into Venezuela. The government reported that 95 percent of voters supported the idea, asserting Venezuela's claim to Essequibo. While official media celebrated the outcome as a decisive mandate, reports from witnesses suggested a low voter turnout.