Guyana has announced a major investment in modern military weapons and equipment as tensions with neighboring Venezuela continue to soar.
Guyana President Irfaan Ali said around $201 million will be spent procuring new helicopters, maritime surveillance vessels, and at least one drone.
He did not provide specific details, such as the names of potential contractors or the exact types of military assets to be purchased.
However, Ali said the investment will be part of a broader effort to restructure the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), focusing on emerging technologies, increasing its assets, and ensuring collaboration with allied forces.
“There is, in our assessment, some reorientation and reorganization of the way we do our work and carry out our tasks,” the president stated.
Increasing Tensions
Guyana has been in a territorial dispute with Venezuela over the mineral-rich Essequibo region.
Caracas had previously voiced its intent to take over the disputed region pending the decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
In December last year, the two sides signed a Brazil-brokered agreement stating they would never use force and would refrain from threatening each other.
However, allegations have surfaced that the Venezuelan military is on the move again, expanding its bases and deploying more soldiers near its border with Guyana.
“We are not surprised at the bad faith of Venezuela. We are disappointed, not surprised,” Guyana Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud told the Associated Press.
“Guyana has a history of entering bilateral discussions in good faith. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same thing about our neighbor to the west.”
The Venezuelan government has yet to respond to the latest allegations.
