US ready to support GDF in tackling Venezuelan Sindicato gang along Guyana’s border

…“will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Guyana” – Ambassador

The United States (US) is prepared to support the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in its efforts to combat the growing threat posed by members of Venezuela’s sindicato gang along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), a key stretch of the border between the two countries. This assurance was delivered by US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, during remarks at the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC) 33rd Annual General Meeting on Friday.

Ambassador Theriot described the gang’s recent attacks on GDF patrols as “acts of aggression” by criminals and declared that the US is fully aligned with Guyana in ensuring peace, security, and the protection of its territorial integrity.
“No amount of bluster or saber-rattling changes the fact that the United States will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Guyana in support of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Venezuela, of course, has also been in the news recently due to the sindicato’s acts of aggression against the GDF patrolling the Cuyuni. These are criminals engaging in criminal activity. And the United States stands ready to support the GDF in its effort to eradicate this activity along Guyana’s frontier and to ensure the safety and security of Guyana’s people,” Ambassador Theriot said.
Her comments come just days after the GDF reported multiple armed attacks on its river patrols between May 13 and 15 by men in civilian clothing on the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River, between Eteringbang and Makapa.
The incidents have heightened tensions in a region already strained by Venezuela’s escalating rhetoric and controversial plans to hold so-called elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region on May 25, a move the US and international community have roundly condemned.
Theriot reaffirmed the Trump Administration’s unwavering support for Guyana’s sovereignty and emphasised that Venezuela’s actions amount to nothing more than “saber-rattling.”
“We fully support the ICJ’s (International Court of Justice) provisional measures for Venezuela to halt its so-called elections in the Essequibo on May 25th. And we are extremely unhappy that they made that ill-advised decision to go ahead and move forward. You will be seeing a very strongly worded tweet coming out of the State Department very soon on that issue. And it will make extremely clear to you where the US stands,” she revealed.
The Ambassador also highlighted the broader US-Guyana partnership, describing it as a powerful alliance between the world’s most advanced economy and the fastest-growing economy. She noted that the US remains Guyana’s largest trade and investment partner and praised the growing collaboration in areas including agriculture, education, defence, and energy.
She noted that for international investors to feel secure, political and civil stability must remain a priority.
“Investment requires more than just a favorable business climate,” she noted. “The two most common concerns we hear from US companies are political unrest, especially surrounding elections, and the threat from Venezuela.”

Valuable lessons
Meanwhile, as it relates to elections, she said the US Embassy along with the PSC and international partners, are committed to supporting free and fair elections in Guyana. “We learned valuable lessons from the 2020 elections, and we will apply those lessons this year to help ensure that Guyanese citizens can trust the electoral process,” Theriot said.
As regional tensions intensify and Guyana’s geopolitical and economic profile continues to rise, the Ambassador’s remarks sent a clear and firm message: Guyana is not alone.
“The United States remains committed to a transparent, predictable regulatory environment that welcomes US and international investment. But more importantly, we are committed to Guyana’s peace and sovereignty,” she said. “We are your partner, now and always.”

Applauding US
Also delivering remarks at the annual meeting was Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, who reiterated the Guyana Government’s position on deepening relations with the US, especially as it relates to border security.
“I want you to join me in applauding the United States Ambassador to Guyana for her very clear an unequivocal comment. I don’t think that the position could have been conveyed more clearly and I know that I speak for all Guyanese when I say thank you very much for the remarkable support the US has provided to us in so many different dimensions but in particular our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Dr Singh noted.
The Government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while also seeking accountability through diplomatic channels.
Earlier this month, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had reaffirmed that the GDF is mobilised and prepared to defend the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid ongoing tensions with Venezuela.
The Head of State emphasised that security operations are actively underway, particularly in light of Venezuela’s upcoming unlawful elections and continued claims over Guyana’s Essequibo region — claims which Guyana has consistently rejected and challenged through international legal avenues.
After years of failed good offices process through the UN, and based on the recommendation of the-then UN Secretary General, Guyana approached the World Court in March 2018, seeking a final and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
The case is currently pending before the ICJ, which has already established its jurisdiction to hear the matter. Guyana has already filed two written pleadings on the merits, and Venezuela has filed one, with its second pleading due in August 2025. Oral hearings are expected in the first half of 2026, following which the Court will deliberate on the case and issue its final judgment on the Merits, which will be binding on the parties.