UNITED States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Air Force Commander, Major General Evan Pettus, recently addressed “rumours” being peddled by Venezuela about the establishment of a U.S. military base in Guyana, describing them as baseless.

The Major General was at the time responding to questions from the media during a joint interview with Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, at Base Camp Ayanganna, on Friday where he clarified the situation.

“It’s an interesting rumour. It is not one that I’m aware of that has any foundation,” he said, as he underscored the humanitarian and disaster response focus of their collaborations, which are longstanding and unrelated to the geopolitical dynamics with neighbouring Venezuela.

Major General Pettus detailed the long-standing partnership between the United States and Guyana, noting his recent visit as a pivotal moment for their collaboration, particularly focusing on the completion of an air domain awareness assessment.

“This is an ongoing relationship and I think that, specifically tying any of these things to current events in Venezuela, would be overstating the importance of relationships that we’ve had since 1966 with the independence of Guyana,” he said.

Both officials pointed out that the collaboration between Guyana and the United States transcends bilateral interests, contributing to broader regional security.

“Ultimately, regional security, national security for the Guyanese people is good for the region, and it’s good for the United States. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership,” Major General Pettus said as he highlighted the mutual benefits of this partnership.

This sentiment was echoed by Brigadier Khan, who outlined the importance of collective security efforts and the role of international partnerships in ensuring regional stability.

Khan stressed that Guyana’s military engagements aim to ensure both national and regional stability, countering the notion that these activities could be perceived by Venezuela as aggressive.
“I’ll tell you in my three decades of service to the, to the nation, to the Guyana Defence Force, we have had so many engagements with the US and other partner nations who share the same values and mutual interest or collective security and stability of this region. So, I don’t want to say that it’s only now coming noticeable, but we are always working together,” the Chief of Staff said.

The engagement with the United States, he said, is part of a broader strategy that includes cooperation with other nations and regional organizations, reinforcing the security architecture of the Caribbean.

Looking forward, both nations anticipate further engagements to continue building Guyana’s defence capabilities, including discussions on cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, and the acquisition of defence assets.

During his three-day visit to Guyana, Major General Pettus met with senior leaders in the Government of Guyana, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and US Embassy to discuss the US defence partnership with Guyana.

Guyanese government officials had affirmed that it has “no plan to take offensive action against Venezuela.” This was following from Venezuela over the British offshore patrol vessel, HMS Trent, had dock in Guyana’s waters.

Last month, President Dr Irfaan Ali had 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.

Despite the tensions, a recent declaration agreed upon by Guyana and Venezuela in St Vincent and the Grenadines, facilitated by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has calmed the situation, with both countries committing to peaceful dialogue.

Following a historic meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in St Vincent and the Grenadines on December 14, 2023, both leaders agreed “not to threaten or use force against one another,” reinforcing their commitment to peace and stability in the region.

The two nations will also cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them.

In the event of such an incident, the two states will immediately communicate with one another, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), and the President of Brazil to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence.

The genesis of the controversy dates back to the 1899 Arbitral Award, a landmark decision that delineated the land boundary between then British Guiana (now Guyana) and Venezuela.
Despite historical arbitration, tensions persisted, leading Guyana to approach the ICJ in 2018, seeking affirmation of the award’s legitimacy.

The ICJ’s recent provisional measures are binding on the parties involved. Under the UN Charter, all states are solemnly bound to comply with the court’s orders, which can be enforced by the UN Security Council.

The substantive case, which highlights the historical context and the 1899 Arbitral Award, remains before the World Court.

Guyana enjoys the full, principled and unequivocal support of CARICOM, the Commonwealth and other partners from around the world.