The Royal Navy will scramble to deploy a naval ship off Guyana later this month, the ministry of defence said today, as the South American nation faces a border dispute with neighbour Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region.

HMS Trent – a vessel used for ‘defence diplomacy’, according to the government – will take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas.

The deployment follows a visit by a British junior foreign minister to Guyana earlier this month, intended to offer the UK’s support for the country, an ally and former British colony.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: ‘HMS Trent will visit regional ally and Commonwealth partner Guyana later this month as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic patrol task deployment.’ 

Guyana and Venezuela agreed earlier this month to avoid any use of force and not to escalate tensions in the long-running dispute.

HMS Trent – a vessel used for ‘defence diplomacy’, according to the government – will take part in joint exercises with Guyana later this month

Venezuelan troops in different fatigues and carrying various weapons in Caracas, Venezuela (File Photo)

Guyana and Venezuela agreed earlier this month to avoid any use of force and not to escalate tensions in the long-running dispute. Pictured Guyana (File Photo)

The 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) Essequibo region is generally recognised as part of Guyana, but in recent years Venezuela has revived its claim to the territory and to offshore areas after major oil and gas discoveries.

The dispute dates back to the late 19th century, when Guyana was still a British colony.

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Venezuela renewed its claims to the region after 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas were found off the coast of Guyana in recent years.

Tensions have risen since a controversial referendum in Venezuela on December 3, in which a huge majority of voters are said to have supported their government’s claim to Esequibo.