Guyana will stay alert after Venezuela vote on territorial dispute -VP

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan National Assembly's President Jorge Rodriguez and Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, head of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), attend an event at the National Electoral Council (CNE) after voters in a referendum rejected the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) jurisdiction over the country's territorial dispute with Guyana and backed the creation of a new state in the potential oil-rich Esequibo, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 4, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

CARACAS (Reuters) - Guyana will remain vigilant after a Venezuelan referendum rejected an international court's jurisdiction over a territorial dispute between the neighboring countries, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday.

Bilateral tensions over the potentially oil-rich Esequibo region rose in recent weeks ahead of the five-question referendum, which Guyana unsuccessfully asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to bar.