Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, emphasized today that safeguarding his country’s sovereignty is a top priority. The Head of State’s comments were in response to questions from the media about Venezuela’s stated position that if it is attacked by the U.S. with Guyana’s support, it will respond with self-defense.
“I have heard a lot of statements out of Venezuela, some directed to me and our country, but let me say very clearly that our sovereignty is our sovereignty, and what we do in relation to our sovereignty is our business,” Ali said today at his first press conference since re-election.
He emphasized that Guyana’s priority is peace but cautioned that transnational threats cannot be ignored. “As a government, as a people, [our goal] is to ensure this region remains a zone of peace,” he said, pointing to the dangers of “transnational crime, drug trafficking and other forms of illicit activities”, and the impact it can have on the region and Guyana’s economy.
Ali pointed to Guyana’s consistent engagement with CARICOM and the U.S. on security cooperation, stating: “We emphasized the importance of fighting transnational crime and forming a coalition to target transnational crime.”
Washington has stepped up its anti-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, with President Donald Trump ordering targeted air and sea strikes on suspected traffickers moving cocaine through international waters. The campaign has killed 14 people to date.
Asked whether the strikes are cause for concern, Ali said his government’s focus is on criminal networks threatening regional stability. “We are continuously concerned about criminals using international waters or countries’ exclusive economic zone in destroying economies, destroying countries, destroying people,” he said.
He disclosed that his government has tracked “overflights over Guyana of suspected narco traffickers and drug planes” and is working with partners to boost air surveillance and tracking systems. “We don’t want our territory to be used; we don’t want our land or sea to be used by any criminal network,” Ali said.
The President’s remarks follow statements from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his Vice President and Defense Minister, who have accused Guyana of aiding U.S. actions they claim threaten Venezuela’s sovereignty. The claims are made against the backdrop of the ongoing Essequibo border controversy, which Caracas insists should be resolved bilaterally, despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) process now underway.
The Guyanese President maintains that Guyana will defend its people and borders: “We have a duty and a responsibility to make the necessary investment, to secure our borders, to secure our people, to secure this region, and also to contribute to every effort that will see our region remain a zone of peace.”
