Venezuela Unilaterally Creates New State in Disputed Territory with Guyana

In a move likely to escalate tensions with neighboring Guyana, Venezuela's lawmakers, aligned with President Nicolas Maduro's government, have passed legislation to establish a new state within the disputed Essequibo region. The decision comes amidst a longstanding territorial dispute between the two nations, with the legal case pending in the UN International Court of Justice.

Maduro's administration has been vocal about Venezuela's claim to the 160,000 square kilometer Essequibo area, despite ongoing international arbitration....