Latest update March 13th, 2026 12:35 AM
Calls grow for transparency on Guyana–US defence pact amid raising regional tension
(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Saturday called on the Government of Guyana to be transparent about the recent signing of a Statement of Intent with the United States of America on December 9 to expand joint military and defence cooperation.
Kaieteur News reported on December 11 that U.S. Department of War officials made a high-profile visit to Guyana, signaling Washington’s renewed focus on the region amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.
Member of Parliament, Riaz Rupnarain
Senior Advisor to the Secretary of War Patrick Weaver and Acting Assistant Secretary Joseph Humire (Americas Security Affairs) met with President Irfaan Ali and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan to deepen a strategic partnership seen as critical to safeguarding regional stability, the U.S. Embassy here said in a press release.
According to a U.S. Embassy press release, discussions focused on U.S. support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and collaboration to advance regional security and stability. During the trip, Senior Advisor Weaver said, “close coordination with regional partners is critical to advancing regional security. The U.S.-Guyana partnership dates back to 1966, and it’s important that we strengthen our cooperation and help to support a sovereign and prosperous Guyana.”
The United States and Guyana enjoy a longstanding security partnership that focuses on promoting a safe, sovereign, and prosperous Guyana, countering transnational criminal organizations, and advancing shared goals of peace and stability across the broader Caribbean and South America, the release concluded. While the meetings highlighted longstanding cooperation dating back to Guyana’s independence in 1966, analysts note a sharper geopolitical subtext: the United States is actively strengthening alliances along its southern frontier in response to Venezuela’s increasingly assertive posture, which has included military drills, border mobilizations, and anti-U.S. rhetoric.
The two countries also signed a Statement of Intent to expand joint military cooperation with full respect for the sovereignty and laws of both countries.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, APNU urged the government to divulge more details amid the backdrop of rising tension in Latin America and the Caribbean Region. In a statement, parliamentarian Riaz Z. Rupnarain said the party “assumes that this measure is intended to support and protect the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“It is understood that a document of this kind may not be placed in the public domain without compelling reasons, However, APNU finds it disconcerting that, given the importance of the SOI, the government has not chosen to inform the Public of its importance and how it addresses national security, defense cooperation, and Guyana’s strategic position in an increasingly difficult and complex regional environment.”
Further, Rupnarain said that the absence of a Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations and the lack of an opportunity for Members of Parliament to discuss the specifics of the agreement with the government at the Parliamentary level are equally concerning.
“Instead of boosting public trust, these omissions raise valid concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, all cardinal elements of a democratic society,” he said.
The member of parliament said that the move by the government raises several questions. Among them, what commitments were made to the US? Does the SOI affect operational co-operation or access to Guyanese territory? Is the SOI linked to future arrangements such as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and or Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) under the Foreign Military Sales system? And what safeguards exist to protect Guyana’s sovereignty and the interests of our people?
“The APNU reiterates its commitment to constructive involvement on all foreign policy and national security issues. Strong and mutually beneficial partnerships with important states in international community are something we wholeheartedly support. Nonetheless, these arrangements must be in keeping with the rule of law, the engagement of, and in consultation with the people of Guyana. APNU urges the government to lay the SOI in the Parliament as a key step in ensuring transparency and accountability,” the APNU representative said.
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