Guyana and the United States (U.S.) have signed an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement for the exchange of goods and services of equal value to support future bilateral defence cooperation.
The Agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Baridi Benab, State House by Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Admiral Craig S. Faller and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess.
The defence partnership between the two countries includes collaboration against regional threats and challenges, capacity-building engagements, bilateral training, expertise exchanges, exercises, and participation in military education programmes.
This includes increased inter-operability, readiness, and effectiveness of the respective military forces through increased logistics corporation. It is flexible when it comes to determining areas for further security bilateral cooperation.
In his remarks, Bess stated that Guyana, with its large geographic size but small population and limited resources often faces challenges when responding to natural and transnational threats.
He therefore welcomed the cooperation with the U.S. which he said symbolizes excellent relations between the two nations.
While natural disasters can displace citizens, Bess said that transnational threats such as terrorism, trafficking in narcotics, and small arms and human trafficking undermine the rule of law, corrupt the youth and undermine institutions.
Left unattended, he said that these threats can erode national security and undermine regional security. “The Guyana Defence Force, therefore, looks increasingly to defence cooperation as a means of improving the responsiveness to natural disasters and transnational criminal threats,” Bess said.
He continued: “The Guyana Defence Force is pleased to be a part of this agreement. The agreement allows for greater predictability in our defence partnership. It establishes a formal basis for encouraging the exchange of services between the militaries of the Guyana and the United States.”
Meanwhile, Admiral Faller said that the visit builds on the visit of U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo in September and reinforces the U.S. commitment to shared regional security and the prosperity of Guyanese.
He underscored that transnational criminal organisations can undermine democracy in both countries and cooperation is the key to success in the challenges faced.
“That’s why we’re here. These threats require all of us to work together. This is our first visit in the new year and it’s to demonstrate you’re an important partner, a fellow champion of democracy, a fellow champion of the rule of law, human rights and security,” he said.
During Pompeo’s visit, Guyana and the U.S. signed a Shiprider agreement which allows for maritime cooperation between the two countries.
Admiral Faller is in Guyana for a three-day visit. He last visited the country in 2017 when Guyana became the first country in South America to host the Caribbean Nations Security Conference.
