President Ali lauds “remarkable” defence partnership between Guyana, UK

– UK “actively involved” in reviewing capabilities of GDF – High Commissioner

The defence and security partnership between Guyana and the United Kingdom has reached unprecedented levels, with President Dr Irfaan Ali describing the relationship as “remarkable” in a comment he made on Thursday evening during a reception hosted by the British High Commission in Georgetown to celebrate the birth anniversary of King Charles III.
“I want to highlight the growing strength of our relationship at the security and defence level. Never in the history of our relationship would we have had the type of military, security, defence exchanges, training, coordination, collaboration that we have today; and that is remarkable,” President Ali expressed.
While noting that this partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering peace and stability in the hemisphere, the Guyanese leader lauded the British Government for the unwavering support it had given to Guyana in the border controversy with Venezuela.
“I express our nation’s appreciation for the support of the United Kingdom, as rendered for the protection of our territorial integrity and sovereignty. The United Kingdom has always been prompt in expressing such support,” the Guyanese president said.

This support was also referenced by British High Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Jane Miller, as she reminded of the prompt visit to Guyana by the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories, David Rutley, in December 2023 shortly after Venezuela’s controversial referendum on the Essequibo region.
During that visit, the British minister had met with President Ali to reinforce the UK’s steadfast support for, and solidarity with, Guyana.
While in Guyana, Rutley had expressed the UK’s unequivocal backing for Guyana against Venezuela’s territorial claims. Further, he had expressed that the border between the two countries had been settled over 120 years ago, and that sovereign borders must be respected.
“I am in Guyana, a fellow Commonwealth member, to offer the UK’s unequivocal backing to our Guyanese friends. The border issue has been settled for over 120 years. Sovereign borders must be respected wherever they are in the world,” Rutley had said.
The Under Secretary had also expressed that the UK would continue its collaboration with regional partners and international bodies to help protect Guyana’s territorial integrity.
This unwavering support was further demonstrated when the UK deployed the HMS Trent, an offshore patrol vessel, to Guyana later that month. The purpose was to carry out routine defence cooperation and exercises with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Coast Guard.
Ambassador Miller has since noted that the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom is “actively involved” in reviewing the capabilities of the GDF.
“We will be doing some training alongside engagement with the Department of Business and Trade, and UK businesses, to enhance Guyana’s security and defence,” the High Commissioner had said.
Earlier in the year, Guyana had hosted the United Kingdom and Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference, a two-day event which had seen top security personnel from the region and UK recommitting to continued collaboration and the maintenance of peace in the hemisphere.
Venezuela has, in recent months, intensified its threats and aggression towards Guyana, but the two countries recently signed a joint declaration agreeing not to use force or threats amid the controversy.
On Thursday, December 14, 2023, in Argyle, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Presidents Ali and Nicolás Maduro had held discussions on matters consequential to the territory involved in the border controversy. After more than eight hours of engagement, the two Heads of State had agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, would not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstance, including those consequential to any existing controversy between the two States.
In a joint declaration, the Heads had also agreed that any controversy between the two States would be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966. But in April 2024, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro promulgated “the Organic Law for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba”, saying this organic law would guarantee that the December 3, 2023 referendum would be fully implemented in the defence of Venezuela and its territory.
Maduro declared that Venezuela does not, and will never, recognize the Arbitral Award, and also reiterated the Spanish-speaking nation’s non-recognition of the ICJ.
In 2018, Guyana moved to the World Court, seeking a final a binding ruling on the October 3, 1899 Arbitral Award which settled the land boundary between the two countries.