Venezuela can just claim that it happened in Venezuelan territorial waters. It’s the China playbook and it’s not entirely invalid. Veneuzuela’s claim on the Essequibo is pretty strong, but Britain wants to avoid setting the precedent that their colonial-era borders are invalid.
The problem would be accidentally shooting at it or getting into any other crufuffle with it.
Venezuela can just claim that it happened in Venezuelan territorial waters. It’s the China playbook and it’s not entirely invalid. Veneuzuela’s claim on the Essequibo is pretty strong, but Britain wants to avoid setting the precedent that their colonial-era borders are invalid.
What they claim will be irrelevant, if the UK and any other countries decide that this was not the case, the casus belli will be made.