TWO officers and 28 other ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have successfully completed an intensive Jungle Life Training programme in Brazil, further strengthening the longstanding defence partnership between Guyana and the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The five-day training exercise was conducted by the Brazilian Army’s 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade in Boa Vista as part of the XXIX Regional Military Exchange Meeting (RRIM), an initiative aimed at enhancing operational cooperation and strengthening the capabilities of both armed forces through the exchange of knowledge and professional expertise.
According to the GDF, Brazil hosted the first phase of the programme during the first semester of 2026, while the Guyana Defence Force is expected to host the reciprocal phase of the exchange later this year.
The Guyanese contingent, comprising ranks from the Infantry Battalions and the Special Forces Battalion, received specialised instruction in several key areas of jungle warfare, including combat shooting, jungle navigation, immediate action drills, communications during jungle operations, explosives, tactical emergency medical care, military planning and briefing procedures, as well as demonstrations of operational equipment and techniques used by the Brazilian Army.
The training was designed to strengthen both individual and collective operational proficiency while improving interoperability between the two defence forces. It also exposed participants to the doctrine, operational procedures and best practices employed by one of the world’s leading jungle warfare forces.
The exchange programme forms part of a broader defence relationship between Guyana and Brazil that spans several decades. Over the years, both countries have maintained close cooperation through jungle warfare training, professional military education and operational exchanges.
Brazilian military instructors have also played a significant role in supporting the development of the GDF’s jungle warfare capabilities through instructional duties at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School at Makouria.
As neighbouring countries sharing the Amazon region, Guyana and Brazil continue to place emphasis on military cooperation to strengthen regional security, improve preparedness for jungle operations, protect the Amazon ecosystem and support efforts to combat transnational crime along their shared border.
The GDF said the successful completion of the training reflects the Force’s continued commitment to developing a highly trained and professional military while deepening strategic partnerships with regional allies through meaningful military cooperation.
