Guyana-US militaries: “We do believe in partnership, and togetherness bears strength” – Chief of Staff

Describing Guyana and the United States (US) as two likeminded countries, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Godfrey Bess has made it clear that the partnership between the militaries of the two countries is more important now than ever.
Brigadier Bess recently hosted a joint press conference with visiting US Southern Commander, General Laura Richardson. While there, Bess complimented the partnership between the militaries of Guyana and the US.
“We are likeminded countries; our democratic values are similar and we do believe in partnership and togetherness bears strength. We do believe that in this uncertain world today, no one country can do it all by itself.”

“So, we do believe that partnership and cooperation can ensure that we have victory in whatever we set out to do,” Brigadier Bess explained. Meanwhile, General Richardson lauded the leadership that Guyana has been providing in the hemisphere, such as hosting the Tradewinds exercise.
General Richardson also emphasised the importance of the partnership between the US military and Guyana. In fact, she noted that one of her tasks while in Guyana is seeking ways to strengthen that partnership.
“So, when we think of how close we are, neighbours, and I think the neighbourhood, free, prosperous neighbourhood, likeminded democracies, with likeminded values. And that’s why I’m here to listen to the challenges and how we can help, and the partnering that we can do,” Richardson said.
“There are many things we already do together and when we have these exercises and bring over 20 partner nations together, to exercise together, to communicate, to conduct operations together, we have to keep that up. We have to remain innovative. The threats and the challenges are only getting more creative themselves.”
Richardson arrived in Guyana only days ago, for the Women, Peace and Security Conference. The two-day conference is being held at the Marriott Hotel and features military personnel from the US and several Caribbean countries.
Richardson is visiting Guyana ten months after assuming duties as SOUTHCOM’s Commander and nearly five months after meeting with Caribbean defence and public security leaders during the 2022 Caribbean Nations Security Conference in April in Bridgetown, Barbados. During her two-day stay in Georgetown, she has met with US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch and President of Guyana Dr Irfaan Ali.
Richardson also joined Guyana’s First Lady Arya Ali and Ambassador Lynch in welcoming participants of the Caribbean Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Conference, which Guyana is hosting from August 29-September 1 in partnership with the Florida National Guard.
The United States and Guyana have a longstanding history of security cooperation. The defence partnership between the two countries includes collaboration against regional threats and challenges, capacity-building exercises, bilateral training, expertise exchanges, events fostering the inclusion of women in defence and security missions, and professional development engagements.
SOUTHCOM is one of the Department of Defence’s six geographically focused unified commands with responsibility for security cooperation with defence and public security forces in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.