The UK is preparing to send a warship to Guyana in a show of diplomatic and military support, the BBC says.
It comes after neighbouring Venezuela ratcheted up tensions in its border controversy with Guyana.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed HMS Trent would take part in joint exercises after Christmas.
HMS Trent – an offshore patrol vessel – had been deployed to the Caribbean to search for drug smugglers but was re-tasked after Venezuela’s government threatened to annex the Essequibo region of Guyana earlier this month, the BBC said.
This week the Lloyd’s insurance market in London added Guyana to its list of riskiest shipping zones.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the BBC: “HMS Trent will visit regional ally and Commonwealth partner Guyana later this month as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic Patrol Task deployment.”
The BBC says HMS Trent has a crew of 65, a top speed of 24 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles.
It is armed with 30mm cannon and a contingent of Royal Marines. It can also deploy Merlin helicopters and unmanned aircraft.
HMS Trent left its home port of Gibraltar in early December and is currently alongside in Bridgetown, Barbados for Christmas.
The warship is expected to anchor off the capital of Guyana, Georgetown, and conduct visits, joint activities and training with the country’s navy and other allies, the report said. It cannot go alongside because the port is too shallow.
The vessel is mainly used for tackling piracy and smuggling, protecting fisheries, counterterrorism, providing humanitarian aid, and search and rescue operations, but the Royal Navy says it is also designed for border patrols and defence diplomacy.
The decision to send HMS Trent to Guyana is part of a growing UK effort to show international diplomatic support for Guyana, according to the BBC.
This week the Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the UK would “continue to work with partners in the region to ensure the territorial integrity of Guyana is upheld and prevent escalation”.
David Rutley, the Foreign Office Minister for the Americas, visited Georgetown on 18 December, the first G7 representative to do so since Venezuela stoked tensions.
He promised Guyana the UK’s “unequivocal backing” and welcomed Venezuela’s promise to avoid using force.
Rutley continued: “The border issue has been settled for over 120 years. Sovereign borders must be respected wherever they are in the world.
“The UK will continue to work with partners in the region, as well as through international bodies, to ensure the territorial integrity of Guyana is upheld.”