–North American nation also committed to supporting Guyana’s growing regional, global role, Erikson says

AS Guyana forges ahead with its developmental agenda, joint efforts are currently underway with the United States of America to boost local defence capability through strategic planning and sustainability in modernisation efforts.

This was according to the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere, Daniel Erikson, who was on a two-day visit to Guyana where he met with top members of government, and the Guyana Defence Force for discussions, spanning various aspects of defence and security.

Erikson, during an interview with local journalists at the US Embassy on Tuesday, highlighted the importance of the ongoing collaboration and the desire to enhance Guyana’s defence capabilities.

“We’re well positioned to have a really robust set of exchanges between the United States and Guyana. Guyana is seeking to modernise its defence capabilities, and we’re in conversations about what the scope of that capability should be,” he said.

One key focus of the discussions was on maritime domain awareness. Erikson acknowledged the necessity to increase the domain awareness of the Guyana Defence Force, highlighting the importance of deepening information sharing.

“We look forward to working with them on that, especially in terms of deepening information sharing. We’ve also just discussed cybersecurity and some steps that can be taken in that area,” the US official said.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary emphasised that the US government recognises Guyana’s pivotal role in the region and the global arena.

He expressed confidence in the potential expansion of Guyana’s maritime and air assets, stating: “Looking forward, I can see a time when Guyana does seek to expand its maritime and air assets beyond what it has.”

Erikson underscored the significance of strategic planning and sustainability in modernisation efforts.

“We want to make sure that our defence relation with Guyana continues to meet the times as the situation continues to evolve. That does so through a plan that is strategic, that’s nested in its overall defence institutions, and that’s sustainable over time,” he said.

As Guyana gears up for its role as the chair of the CARICOM committee and holds a seat on the UN Security Council, Erikson commended the professionalism of the Guyanese Defence Forces.

He expressed the United States’ commitment to supporting Guyana’s growing regional and global role.
Erikson reaffirmed that his visit marks the beginning of what is expected to be a year of heightened collaboration between the United States and Guyana.

Recently, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, announced the government’s commitment to bolstering Guyana’s defence capability, revealing plans for increased investments in both material and human resources for the GDF.

The Head of State acknowledged the evolving nature of threats, pointing out the need for a proactive response to safeguard Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He stated: “As we grow, the threats are going to become more sophisticated, and the criminals are going to become more sophisticated.”

It is for this reason that Budget 2024 will reflect the increase in planned investments encompassing various aspects of the security apparatus, including the expansion of the air wing, maritime assets, and Coast Guard capabilities.

President Ali stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach, stating: “Those are important investments that we’re making. But also, critical training and other hardware equipment, cybersecurity, all of this will see extended expenditure in security.”

President Ali highlighted the interconnected nature of economic growth and security challenges.
“Not only will the economy become more sophisticated, but the type of criminals we will have operating in the economic space of Guyana will be far more sophisticated,” he added.

Last month, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, explained that the primary objective is to bolster Guyana’s security apparatus in a defensive capacity, clarifying that there are no intentions to launch attacks on any nation, including Venezuela which had increased its aggression towards Guyana.

The Vice-President referenced recent discussions between Presidents Dr. Irfaan Ali and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where there was a commitment to peace.