GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Dec 5, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The US ambassador to Guyana told AFP on Thursday her country would defend the South American nation in case of any problem with Venezuela, with which it is locked in a border dispute.

Guyana holds the most proven crude reserves per capita in the world, mostly in the Essequibo region that makes up two-thirds of its territory -- but is also claimed by Venezuela.

Long-running tensions between the neighbors have intensified since ExxonMobil discovered massive offshore oil deposits in the Essequibo region a decade ago and reached fever pitch in 2023 when Guyana started auctioning off oil blocks.

Essequibo has been administered by Guyana for over 100 years.

"In the event that something untoward happens, we're committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with Guyana in defense of" the country, ambassador Nicole Theriot told AFP on the sidelines of an event in the capital Georgetown.

"We remain committed to standing beside Guyana to protect your sovereignty," she added.

The statement comes at a time the United States has deployed a mighty naval force in the Caribbean in what it calls an anti-drug operation but Caracas claims is a regime-change ploy.

Washington and dozens of other capitals do not recognize President Nicolas Maduro's 2024 election victory claim, and Donald Trump has accused him of leading a drug cartel.

Guyana's President Irfaan Ali told AFP by phone there was a "continuous assessment, internal assessment, risk assessment and looking at the evolving situation and the method of approach," concerning any threat from Venezuela.

Evan Ellis, a Latin America expert at the US Army War College told AFP chances of a Venezuelan assault have likely diminished in the face of the US military deployment.

"Any serious attack is both highly unlikely and would be met with a crushing response given that you have a substantial US force in the region," he said.

"It's difficult to imagine any Venezuelan naval capability or any air capability that would not just be quickly eliminated," Ellis added.