President Ali, French Senate delegation advance diplomatic, security cooperation

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday welcomed French Senator Cédric Perrin, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces, and French Ambassador Olivier Plançon at State House for discussions aimed at advancing Guyana–France relations.

According to a statement from the President’s office, the meeting underscored the significance of the newly established French Embassy in Georgetown. President Ali noted that bilateral ties between the two countries have grown over the past five years and pointed to new areas of cooperation in tourism, trade, agriculture, defence, security, and energy. He added that the embassy’s presence would serve as a platform to deepen strategic collaboration.
Senator Perrin was joined by Senators André Guiol and Olivier Cigolotti, Jeanne Mengotti from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colonel Emmanuel Rigault, and other French officials. The delegation expressed appreciation for Guyana’s commitment to environmental protection and the hospitality shown during their visit.

Several Government Ministers attended the meeting, including Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Zulfikar Ally.
Earlier in the day, the delegation met with Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, and senior officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Defence Headquarters. In a statement, the GDF said Brigadier Khan outlined key national and regional security concerns, including migration, drug trafficking, and other transnational challenges affecting the Guiana Shield. He stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with France to address these issues, noting the long-standing security collaboration between the two countries.
Senator Perrin reaffirmed France’s respect for Guyana’s sovereignty and reiterated support for the peaceful resolution of the border controversy with Venezuela before the International Court of Justice. Senator Cigolotti also highlighted the importance of closer collaboration, given the geographic proximity and shared strategic interests of Guyana and French Guiana.
The visit comes as Guyana and France continue to expand diplomatic, security, and economic partnerships, with the embassy in Georgetown expected to play a key role in supporting these efforts.