GUYANESE officials announced on Thursday that there were no plans for a United States base in their country.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the Guyanese government has reassured neighbouring Venezuela there is no plan for the US to establish a military base in the South American country and that it has not made a formal request for one.

This comes days after Guyana announced it was seeking help from the US to improve its defence capabilities.

“We have not been approached by the United States to establish a military base in Guyana,” said Guyanese Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, adding that the government does not conduct public policy at press conferences.

Guyana has sought to temper tensions with Venezuela over a disputed region known as Essequibo, which is rich in oil and minerals and represents two-thirds of Guyana and that Venezuela claims as its own.

Venezuela held a referendum in December to claim sovereignty over the area.

Both countries agreed at a December summit in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines to refrain from using force.

But the dispute continues, with Venezuela insisting that Essequibo was part of its territory during the period of Spanish rule, and that a 1966 agreement nullified a border drawn in 1899 by colonial powers.