Guyana and the United States reaffirmed their defence and security alliance on Thursday, pledging continued cooperation to combat transnational crime and protect regional stability.
The reiteration of this assurance came during celebrations marking the United States’ 250th independence anniversary at the Four Points by Sheraton Georgetown.
Addressing the occasion, President Dr Irfaan Ali said Guyana looks forward to deepening security cooperation to protect its borders and contribute to regional security.
“We’ve seen terrorist cells trying to find their way into our region and establish themselves, we’ve seen the worst threats to democracy … criminal gangs and narco-traders of unbelievable scale, and today, after seeing it all together, we are combining our efforts to fight it together,” Ali said.
US Ambassador Nicole Theriot reiterated Washington’s commitment to supporting Guyana’s defence capabilities, highlighting the growing security partnership between the two countries.
“Guyana faces real threats from narco-traffickers, transnational criminal organisations and those who challenge its sovereignty,” Theriot said, adding that the US had made clear Guyana “does not face those challenges alone.”
She said Guyana, as a founding member of both the Shield of the Americas and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, had also proven its commitment to protecting the region.
Guyana and the US have also partnered in other areas including healthcare, technology, energy and commerce.
