A country’s foreign policy is primarily influenced and dictated  by  its domestic  policy. This is a definite truism that is understood by any astute head of state, and will be borne in mind whenever he/she considers  the development direction of his/her particular state.
It was a fact that former President Bharrat Jagdeo understood only too well, as he and his former cabinet colleagues, sat down to  strategise   the socio-economic  development course  of Guyana.
No doubt, the necessity of his numerous trips to diverse regions of the globe, seeking to forge new economic  and trade ties, and other forms of technical cooperation  with countries in the Middle East, wider  Europe, and a determined attempt also  at fostering closer ties with the Latin American countries.
That such was indeed essential is because  events throughout the international   system has changed the traditions of  conducting state-to-state relations.
Though Guyana still has continuing  economic ties with her traditional partners, Britain, Canada, and the United States,  aid flows from these  once primary partners  have diminished significantly, over the years, due to  these  benefactors being pre-occupied with  challenges and interests that are critical to their individual  and collective  national interests.
As is well known, the United States of America  has been mired in two  bloody conflicts, for almost a decade,  influenced and precipitated by the Twin Tower attacks, that have exacted  a military  bill in excess of one trillion dollars.
Then there is the  still  continuing effects of the worst economic crises since the great depression, that  almost brought the great  nation  to a halt. These urgent  contingencies have  also  impacted  on traditional  American interests in  Latin America, where her influence  has been challenged  principally by Iran’s constant forays; Russia’s attempts at forging closer  ties; and Venezuela’s competing influence as an alternative to the northern giant.
Britain has her own  economic and social problems, and is not as generous as before as she seeks to put her house in order by reducing   domestic spending  with the  implementation  of  deep cuts in  social and economic programmes.
These  have impacted on foreign aid; and, it must be noted as well that  Britain is a declined power,  with this status matching her gradual  withdrawal from her once Caribbean Region of  colonial tutelage, over the decades. Aid from  Canada, too, has lessened, though there is still some amount of economic  ties and technical cooperation with this North American state.
Another critical factor to be taken into account is the fact that the Caribbean, inclusive of Guyana, because of its common history, is no longer a priority on Washington’s list, given the end of the Cold War.
This is a fact well  understood  by present-day Regional leaders, and they too have been seeking beneficial ties with other nations, with China being of significant importance as a  new, major benefactor.
There is even the  Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), an initiative by  Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, that includes as members the following Caribbean island states: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with St Lucia currently a guest country. There are some Latin American countries, inclusive of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua that are part of this mainly  Regional economic  integration based on a vision of social welfare, bartering and mutual economic aid.
The fact that  some  Caribbean island states are part of this alliance is of  significance, given the fact  of the testy relations existing between Chavez and Washington, and the latter’s warnings to the hemisphere in general to be  wary of the Venezuelan leader’s perceived  growing anti-democratic tendencies.  Such a step by these isles would have been unthinkable, say, a decade ago; but, no longer are traditional sentiments and fear of threats considerations in the face of harsh,  economic realities.
Today,  more than before, Guyana’s trade and economic ties have expanded two fold with other nation states, much to the benefit of the nation and its peoples. Beneficial  economic  and trade  agreements have been struck with the  newly emerging economic BRIC  powers, particularly  Brazil,  India and China.
Only recently, Guyana has received another significant aid package from China to the tune of $1.4B. There is even a lucrative rice  agreement with  neighbouring Venezuela, in addition to Guyana being a part of the concessionary Petro Caribe agreement.
President  Donald  Ramotar, in his  address to the 10th Parliament,  spoke of  the necessity of “broadening those relations with others, particularly those emerging economies “…Expanding  our relations will open new markets for our products and services and make  us less susceptible to the economic shocks that originate from outside our own borders.”
Finally, It was quite unfortunate that there were voices  raised  against former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s trip to Iran, from those who cited the latter state’s adversarial position with the United States as cause(s) not  to effect close ties.
But those persons must understand that Guyana as  a sovereign  nation has the right to determine its international ties, particularly as they relate to the nation’s  development.
Have they forgotten   Forbes Burnham’s decision, followed later by his  then fellow  CARICOM   leaders of Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad to establish ties with Castro’s Cuba, at a time when Cuba was public enemy number one, a Regional pariah, and   America’s pre-occupation in this hemisphere?
It was a decision that has since benefited Guyana and many  island  states of CARICOM, tremendously. This policy  has  been continued by the PPP/C administration.
Guyana is much  better off as a nation,  due  to this  progressive shift in  foreign policy   initiative by the PPP/C government.