The US and Guyana have signed a joint declaration to address regional security threats and expand military cooperation.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali to formalize the agreement at the Pentagon, which commits both nations to deeper joint training, multi-domain operations, and air domain awareness.
At the event, Hegseth highlighted Ali’s regional leadership and noted that the pact advances shared security objectives under the Monroe Doctrine, a foreign policy framework that is being continuously updated to fit current US military and security priorities in South America.
Focus on Drug Cartels
Washington’s “landmark” agreement with Georgetown primarily reinforces bilateral drug interdiction efforts and builds on both countries’ involvement in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC), also called the “Shield of the Americas.”
Officials stated that the collaboration will also provide sustained defense expertise to the Guyana Defence Force while bolstering regional stability and national sovereignty.
“Your leadership across the region with key Caribbean partners has been indispensable,” Hegseth told Ali.
“We’ve only just begun on that project, and your investment has inspired confidence for us. I hope you’ve seen that our investment has inspired confidence in you, in security forces, in our militaries … to further elevate our defense cooperation on our all-domain partnership.”
Ali, who serves as founding leader and key partner of the US-led ACCC, welcomed the pact as an important step for long-term prosperity and security in the Western Hemisphere.
“This is the era of action; this is the era of leadership; this is the era of domination and commitment, and we’re very happy to be part of this partnership,” Ali said. “We look forward to working with you in a stronger way.”