France, Guyana set to strengthen military ties in tech, defence, drone training

…Joint Working Group to soon meet, discuss areas of cooperation

France has expressed its willingness to expand military cooperation with Guyana in technology and other areas, with a Joint Working Group to soon meet to discuss ways of going about expanding bilateral ties.

In May of this year, a working group between Guyana and France had met to discuss areas the two countries could cooperate in, such as defense, climate change and food security. During a reception on board French navy vessel La Combattante, over the weekend, Head of the French Diplomatic Bureau Jean-Jacques Forté, revealed that the working group will soon meet again.
According to Forté, France is aware of the need for Guyana to have more capacity to protect its land and sea areas. He noted that France is well equipped to help its partners build their military capacity, especially in areas such as military technology and drones and wishes to expand this cooperation with Guyana, to benefit the Guyana Defense Force (GDF).
“In the framework of the excellent relations between the Guyana Defense Force and the French Armed Forces, in particular with the armed forces in French Guiana, our cooperation covered the entire land, sea and air spectrum of the Guiana Shield. Our military cooperation is reflected throughout the year by regular exchanges between our forces here in Georgetown and Cayenne, but also in France.”
“The GDF, with the French military, meet regularly during jungle (exercises), in particular the forest training center and France wishes to consolidate this group relations, in other areas such as 3D capacity with upcoming joint drone training and support for capacity to detect any near and distant threat by night and day,” he added.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh meanwhile reflected on the cooperation between the two countries, which saw Guyana purchasing an Ocean Patrol Vessel from France earlier this year. According to Singh, there are multiple avenues through which the Government of Guyana sees the relationship with France progressing.
“I couldn’t possibly stress how deeply appreciative we are of the very clear demonstration France has provided of your commitment to supporting Guyana in the preservation and protection of our sovereignty and territorial integrity and the multiple channels through which the defense cooperation has manifested,” Singh said.
“Including the joint training and capacity building exercises, the regular and ongoing consultations between our respective military high command and most recently, the partnership in the supply, by France, of important hardware.”
In addition to the vessel, France also intends to establish an embassy in Guyana next year. This was announced in a joint communique in March 2024, following a meeting between President Dr Irfaan Ali and France’s Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Séjourné at State House.
According to the communique, given their desire to forge closer links, the two countries had decided to write a new chapter by France opening an embassy in Georgetown in 2025. France will be the first EU country with this level of diplomatic representation in Guyana.
France opening an embassy, the communique had said, would boost the development of cooperation in various sectors, including in the economy, in priority areas for Guyana where French companies hold renowned expertise.
This embassy would also contribute to strengthening ties between Guyana and French Guiana, as well as French relations with the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which is headquartered in Georgetown, the statement read.
The French Consulate in Guyana has meanwhile also taken it upon themselves to issue Schengen visas to France, eliminating the need for Guyanese to go to Suriname for the processing of this visa.
This new service, which went into effect back in October, is available twice a month. Applicants are now required to complete their applications online via the France Visas portal under the Suriname section, and must book an appointment online before visiting the Consulate of France in Georgetown, located at 46 First Avenue, Subryanville, to submit their applications.