Guyana's president Saturday denounced an incursion by an armed Venezuelan naval vessel in disputed waters that are home to a mammoth offshore oil deposit being developed by ExxonMobil. President Irfaan Ali,

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP) — The United States on Saturday denounced what it said were Venezuelan naval vessels “threatening” an ExxonMobil unit in maritime territory claimed by Guyana.

The United States issued a stern warning to the Nicolás Maduro regime on Saturday following reports that a Venezuelan patrol boat entered into Guyanaese waters, threatening ExxonMobil’s offshore operations.

Guyana’s government said Saturday that a Venezuelan naval patrol ship entered its waters and approached a vessel contracted by Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) in the Straboek block, according to media reports.

The South American neighbours are involved in a long-running dispute about which country owns the oil-rich Essequibo area Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said on Saturday that a Venezuelan naval vessel had entered his country's waters earlier in the day,