Diplomats back non-violence as Venezuela, Guyana talk over border dispute

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and Guyana's Foreign Minister Hugh Todd attend a meeting between representatives of the governments of Venezuela and Guyana to discuss the crisis surrounding the territory of Essequibo, disputed by the two countries at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Talks over a territorial dispute pitting Venezuela against Guyana yielded commitments on Thursday to avoid violence or threats, after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro revived claims over an oil-rich region on their shared border.

The dispute centers on Esequibo, a 160,000 square kilometer (61,800 sq mile) region that is mostly thick jungle but also where in recent years massive amounts of oil and gas have been found.