At the time of his visit to Guyana, Rubio stated that an attack on the state or on the oil infrastructure of the American company ExxonMobil would mean "a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime" and "it would not have been good for him." He did not give details of a possible U.S. response.
Maduro, who has ruled a tough hand since 2013, and according to the opposition falsified the last presidential election, criticized Rubio's message on state television.
A dispute over part of Guyana
— This imbecile Marco Rubio comes out threatening Venezuela from Guyana. Imbecil, Venezuela cannot be threatened due to the fact that it is the homeland of the liberators, it is the homeland of Simon Bolivar," Maduro said.
A government in Caracas has in fresh years renewed a erstwhile oil-rich dispute, controlled by Guiana territory, called Esequibo or Guayana Esequiba. Tensions rose in early March erstwhile Guyana's government accused a ship of Venezuelan coastguard of trespassing on Guian waters and attempting to disrupt oil extraction.
The Venezuelan government considers Esequibo to be its territory, announced the decision to establish a Venezuelan state there and plan for the May election of its governor.
