%ra]il promises to defend *u\ana against 9ene]uela¶s aggression 6uriname reluctant to choose sides
Brazil has promised to give military support to neighboring Guyana which is locked in a border dispute with 9enezuela. 2n Feb. 7, Brazilian 3resident Michel Temer approved a trip by Defense Minister 5aul -ungmann, -ustice Minister Torquato -ardim and Institutional Security &abinet &hief Sergio Etchegoyen to Guyana and Suriname. According to Agencia Estado, the visit¶s purpose is to discuss border security with the Guyanese and Surinamese governments. +owever, an unconfirmed report in Brazilian paper O Antagonista claimed the real reason behind the visit was to share information that Brazil¶s intelligence services had learned about 9enezuela considering a military incursion into Guyana.
3resident Desi Bouterse has reportedly made it clear to the delegation from Brazil that Suriname does not want to choose sides in the dispute. “Let us know if there is anything that we can do to assist Guyana,” Minister 5aul -ungmann told Guyanese 3resident David Granger. The Brazilian delegation made it clear that it is not impressed by the tough words used by 9enezuela¶s president, Nicolas Maduro. Brazilian 3resident Michel Temer criticized the leftist government of neighboring 9enezuela on Friday for leading that country into a crisis that is causing an exodus of refugees into northern Brazil. Minister -ungmann also made it clear to 3resident Granger that Brazil remains in favor of a peaceful solution of the border dispute. The 8N Secretary General has referred the border dispute issue to the International &ourt of -ustice, which may issue a binding decision on the matter within the next several years. 3resident Granger expressed Guyana¶s gratitude for Brazil¶s pledge of support by awarding the &acique &rown of +onour to Minister -ungmann.
Suriname reminded the Brazilian delegation of the warm relations with Guyana and 9enezuela and emphasized the fact that it does not want to get involved in the quarrel between those two countries. Surinamese officials also discussed transborder crimes with the Brazilian delegation.
The Brazilian government will deploy more troops on its border with 9enezuela and start relocating tens of thousands of 9enezuelan refugees who have fled into northern Brazil, Minister 5aul -ungmann said on Thursday. -ungmann said a census will be conducted to establish how many 9enezuelans have crossed the open border to seek food, work and shelter in Boa 9ista, where the mayor says 40,000 refugees have strained the city¶s health and other public services.