THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday hosted the 4th Regional Exchange Meeting between Guyana and France, deepening military cooperation as both countries confront shared security challenges across the Guiana Shield.
The engagement brought together senior officers from the GDF and the French Armed Forces in French Guiana for high-level discussions on ongoing collaboration and planned activities for 2026.
Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, welcomed the French delegation and underscored the significance of the meeting.
According to a release from GDF, Khan said the visiting team’s presence “reflects the growing partnership between Guyana and France, particularly as both countries work to address shared security priorities across the Guiana Shield.”

Brigadier Khan highlighted that joint action remains central to regional stability, noting that “collaboration remains essential in confronting challenges that affect the region, including transnational threats and other emerging issues.”
The meeting, he added, offers an opportunity to take stock of coordinated initiatives while “reviewing ongoing areas of cooperation and discussing planned activities for 2026.”
French General and Commander of the French Armed Forces in French Guiana, Major General Geraud Laborie, reinforced France’s commitment to the partnership.
He stated that Guyana and France “are important regional allies who routinely work together to confront issues such as illegal trafficking and other threats impacting the Guiana Shield.”
Major General Laborie noted that the forum “provides valuable momentum for the work to be advanced” and expressed his intention to support the development of new agreements to strengthen information-sharing and expand operational cooperation.
He also signalled anticipation of hosting Brigadier Khan and other regional Chiefs of Defence at the Regional Defence Chiefs Meeting scheduled for early 2026 in French Guiana — an engagement he believes will “further strengthen the growing cooperation between the two countries.”
The GDF said today’s meeting “reaffirms the shared commitment of Guyana and France to security, stability, and strengthened defence partnerships across the region,” while positioning both nations for even closer collaboration in the year ahead.