— President Ali hails deepening security alliance, investment ties
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has hailed the United States as a “trustworthy and reliable partner,” declaring that Guyana and the U.S. are building a robust security alliance and advanced development co-operation anchored in democracy, the rule of law and respect for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Head of State was at the time addressing a reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown on Thursday evening to mark the country’ s 250th Independence Anniversary”.
“We in Guyana have long understood the true friendship between nations does not mean subservience, but mutual respect,” he said adding:
“Our vision for the future is one in which the United States acts as a reliable partner who respects the distinct part that each sovereign nation must walk, and we have found that reliability, we have found that trust, and we have found that partnership.”
President Ali underscored that after 60 years of Guyana’s independence and 250 years of American independence, the relationship between Georgetown and Washington is now at its strongest.
“Today our partnership is at its strongest,” he said, stressing the bilateral partnership has been built by a joint commitment of international peace, order and democracy.
FROM CO-OPERATION TO A ‘SECURITY ALLIANCE’
President Ali further insisted that the two countries are going beyond loose co-operation to build a tightly knit security alliance.
“Our security alliance is not only aligned, the task before us is to make it intertwine seamlessly, and that is what we’re working on, because we have a duty to protect the children of tomorrow, to protect the economy of tomorrow, and to protect this region,” he said.
He framed this as a responsibility to protect future generations and the regional economy and cited Guyana’s role as a founding member of the ‘Shield of America’ as part of that commitment.
He stressed that Guyana’s National Defence Institute is now closely linked with U.S. institutions, with aligned programmes, philosophies, priorities and strategies.
“Strategies are becoming to take shape on a common platform, all signalling one truth, that we are in this for the long haul. We are in this for the future, and we are in this only for one consideration, the safety, dignity, and honour of all the people of this region,” he explained further.
SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND REGIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
President Ali was careful to state that the deepening security relationship with Washington is not designed for aggression or regional domination.
“The co-operation is not sought for aggressive purposes. We have a new ambition beyond our borders, and we seek no domination over others. Rather, we seek to ensure peace, stability, and development that are the birthright of our people. We seek to ensure that our sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by all,” he stressed.
President Ali signalled that Guyana is now poised to deepen security collaboration with Washington even further, indicating that the two countries will continue to align their defence institutions, intelligence sharing and operational planning in response to evolving threats in the hemisphere.
