US, Guyana fortify ties to safeguard borders, counter narcotics trafficking; discuss security challenges

The United States and Guyana are advancing their security partnership as both nations work together to strengthen territorial integrity, combat illicit narcotics trafficking, and confront key national security challenges.
This week, staff members from several US congressional committees met with Guyanese civilian and military leaders to reinforce this cooperation, underscoring Washington’s commitment to a safer, more secure, and prosperous region.
During their visit, the delegation toured the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard headquarters, where they witnessed first-hand the country’s enhanced capacity to monitor its vast coastline through maritime radar and advanced analysis tools.
The collaboration comes at a time when regional security dynamics are rapidly evolving, with threats such as transnational crime, narco-trafficking, and territorial disputes placing increased demands on small States. The US has consistently positioned itself as a partner in strengthening Guyana’s defence capabilities, offering technical support, training, and operational cooperation.
Guyana’s national security leadership also held follow-up talks with Joseph M Humire, the newly-appointed US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Homeland Defence and Hemispheric Affairs. The meeting marked Humire’s first official engagement with Guyana since assuming office, building on a series of recent high-level exchanges between Georgetown and Washington.
National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan and Colonel Sheldon Howell, Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, led the local delegation. They were joined by US officials from the Security Cooperation Office in Georgetown.
Gouveia reaffirmed the shared democratic values, stability, and security interests that anchor the Guyana-US partnership. Brigadier Khan highlighted recent joint initiatives in military collaboration, including maritime domain awareness and operational readiness, while Colonel Howell underscored the opportunities to deepen cooperation across intelligence and strategic defence domains.
This first engagement with Humire reinforced the US’s role as a key ally in Guyana’s security development. It also opened new pathways for collaboration as both countries confront shared challenges across the Western Hemisphere, from safeguarding critical infrastructure to countering the destabilising influence of illicit networks.

Joint pact
Back in March, Guyana and the US further strengthened security cooperation with the signing of a new agreement that also focuses on countering narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime in the Region.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at State House in Georgetown.
Secretary Rubio and his delegation had engaged in bilateral talks with the Guyana Government led by President Dr Irfaan Ali, as part of a three-nation Caribbean tour that lasted for two days.
Under this newly-inked security cooperation mechanism, Guyana and the United States will strengthen information sharing, synthetic drug detection, transnational organised crime investigations and prosecutions, and military-to-military cooperation.
In brief remarks at a joint press conference after the signing, President Ali affirmed that the US stood as Guyana’s trusted partner – a relationship that is rooted in shared values, mutual trust, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the principles of international order.
“The United States is our trusted partner as we continue to build a stable, secure and democratic society here. This visit has allowed us to consolidate our bilateral agenda; defining policies and outlining clear intentions in areas of security, trade, energy, investments, infrastructure, democracy, regional peace and stability, human capital deployment and development,” he stated at the time.
President Ali further underscored that the joint commitment between the two countries to enhance collaboration in combating transnational crime also includes tackling narco- and human trafficking, money laundering, and all forms of smuggling.

Address existing gaps
Guyana, the President noted, has also “reassured our partner that we will continue to ensure all international and local labour laws are adhered to in the hiring of regional and international labour. Furthermore, with our expanding healthcare system and critical shortage of human capital, we will explore areas of collaboration to address existing gaps.”
Additionally, through bilateral discussions with President Ali and Rubio, key regional infrastructure projects for development have been identified as potential areas for investment. Guyana and the US have also committed to working closely on the deployment of Guyana’s energy potential to ensure greater integration, value creation, and regional energy security.
Food security and enhanced trade through joint initiatives to remove obstacles and expand existing areas of interest were also discussed.
“I am confident that the outcome of this visit has further aligned our policy agendas, shared commitment, and collaboration, which will bring enormous benefits to our two countries and the region,” the Guyanese Leader posited.