‘Oil era exposes fault lines’ …as Todd, Walton-Desir spar over foreign policy

Feb 06, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, on Tuesday, defended the government’s foreign policy agenda, pushing back against criticisms from Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) party, Amanza Walton-Desir.

Speaking during the National Assembly debate on Budget 2026, Walton-Desir heavily criticised government’s guiding principle on international relations. Walton-Desir sought to call out the government on their lack of foresight and strategy when it comes to improving the foreign policy. “Mr. Speaker, our emergence as an oil-producing state has changed how the world sees us, and it has changed how we are tested. Increased attention brings opportunity, but it also brings pressure. And pressure exposes weakness where institutions are not prepared,” she said.

Walton-Desir continued that “By preparedness, I mean the legal, institutional and strategic capacity to anticipate pressure, coordinate responses and defend national interests before a crisis becomes confrontation…”

The FGM party leader noted that for this reason, she has consistently called for the establishment of a standing Foreign Policy Council. She explained that council is “not another committee, but as a preparedness instrument.”  “Such a council would integrate legal, diplomatic, security, energy and migration expertise into a single permanent structure capable of coordinating across agencies, stress-testing assumptions and protecting our credibility before our interests are tested. This is what building for contestation looks like. And that architecture is not reflected in this budget.”

According to Walton –Desir as a young petroleum state, protecting national interests requires legal expertise that can move at speed, diplomats trained in energy geopolitics and the capacity to respond decisively before pressure becomes a crisis.

“That requires investment in people, systems and coordination, not just attendance at meetings. If we are serious about protecting sovereignty, future budgets must reflect a shift from symbolism to substance, from routine diplomacy to strategic capability because in an oil-producing Guyana, sovereignty will not be challenged once. It will be tested again and again,” she cautioned.

“Our sovereignty rests on the strength of international law, credible diplomacy, strong institutions, and alliances that reinforce legitimacy. That is precisely why sovereignty must be treated as a capability of preparedness.”  Walton Desir added.

In his response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd asserted that Guyana’s international standing has never been stronger than under the PPP/C Administration.

Minister Todd emphasised that foreign policy remains a central pillar of Guyana’s national development, directly supporting social advancement, economic growth, and improved quality of life for citizens. “As a government, we believe in policies that are backed by data, science, and empirical evidence backed by the people, and that is why we have been successful at our national policies,” he stated.

According to Minister Todd, the administration’s achievements in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and economic expansion have strengthened Guyana’s global reputation, allowing President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to confidently articulate the country’s progress during engagements with foreign leaders.

These successes, he said, have been well received by international partners and have translated into tangible cooperation agreements and strategic alliances. “The president set the foreign policy agenda on behalf of the people who have elected him, and it’s very clear that he has a mandate to execute on behalf of the people,” the minister said.

He highlighted several recent high-level engagements, including President Ali’s recent meetings in the United Kingdom with senior government officials, business leaders, and Commonwealth representatives, as well as Guyana’s successful role in advancing the Global Biodiversity Alliance.

On matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the minister reaffirmed the government’s bipartisan and inclusive approach, pointing out that diplomats appointed under previous administrations continue to serve Guyana abroad. He noted that $100 million has been allocated to safeguarding Guyana’s borders, along with ongoing strategic partnerships with Brazil, Suriname, and other regional allies. Minister Todd stressed that “Guyana’s foreign policy is driven by substance, not rhetoric, and is executed through a coordinated top-down and bottom-up approach.”

He maintained that the government’s expanding diplomatic footprint, strengthened international partnerships, and growing global respect are clear evidence of effective foreign policy execution under the current administration.

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• Amanza Walton-Desir, Foreign Policy, Hugh Todd, oil

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