Deepened Guyana-US security partnership fosters regional peace & stability, not aggression – Pres Ali

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, says that the heightened cooperation in the area of security between Guyana and the United States is not a show of aggression or domination but part of efforts to strengthen peace and stability within the hemisphere.
The Guyanese leader was speaking at a reception hosted on Thursday evening by the US Embassy in Georgetown to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Independence of the United States.
“Guyana looks forward to deepening our security cooperation with the United States. The cooperation is not sought for aggressive purposes. We harbor no ambitions beyond our borders, and we seek no domination over others. Rather, we seek to ensure peace, stability, and development. They are the birthright of our people.”
“We seek to ensure that our sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by all and that our abundant resources-the blessings of our national inheritance – are developed for the benefit of Guyanese, free from external coercion or intimidation. We seek to be a good neighbour, an excellent global citizen, and a reliable partner in times of need. To all those who share our geographic space and beyond, you can trust Guyana to stand by you in your hour of need, and you can trust our friendship once international rule of law, democracy, and the right principles are aligned,” President Ali stated.
His comments come as Guyana is currently mobilizing relief supplies for neighboring Venezuela, which has been devastated by the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Guyana’s support and solidarity have been lauded as “ good neighborliness” by the Spanish-speaking nation, which has been claiming more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass and a portion of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where some 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent have been discovered, with production and exploration activities ongoing.
Guyana has approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final and binding settlement of this border controversy, which the World Court is likely to rule on sometime later this year or early 2024.
Despite this strained relationship, however, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, commended Guyana for its show of solidarity toward Venezuela.
“Both of our governments are also committed to doing the right thing, and I am proud that Guyana and the United States, our governments and our private sectors, mobilised immediately following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela last week to send aid, relief supplies, equipment, transportation, and humanitarian aid workers to help in any way possible. Our hearts go out to the people of Venezuela, and please know that both the United States and Guyana will always show up for you,” she stated during Thursday’s reception.
In the same breath, however, the US diplomat recognised the real threat Guyana faces from those who challenge its sovereignty, reassuring that the country is not alone. She further reminded everyone of US Senator Marco Rubio’s declaration that any attack on Guyana would be a very bad idea during his March 2025 visit to Georgetown, where a landmark Memorandum of Understanding for Security Cooperation was signed between the two nations.
This, Ambassador Theriot noted, coupled with the fact that Guyana is a founding member of both the Shield of the Americas and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, has not only solidified the US commitment to protecting Guyana but also Guyana’s own commitment to protecting the region.
In fact, President Ali welcomed the commitment of the US for a hemisphere where the people enjoy dignity and honor peacefully. He pointed out that the region faces threats to democracies and from criminal gangs and narco-traffickers of unbelievable scale; hence, the relationship with the US is critical to ensuring peace and safety.
“We, in Guyana, have long understood that true friendship between nations does not mean subservience but mutual respect. Our vision for the future is one in which the United States acts as a reliable partner that respects the distinct path each sovereign nation must walk. And we have found that reliability; we have found that trust, and we have found that partnership.”
“The relationship between our two nations is not one of convenience but of conviction. It is predicated on cooperation from mutual interests and, more importantly, on shared values. These values must continue to be the compass guiding our nations. These values include respect for democracy, respect for the rule of law, respect for international law, respect for the protection of human rights, and, of singular importance to us, the absolute necessity of upholding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the President emphasised.