…says U.S. not seeking to have bases here or in the hemisphere; collaboration with GDF to respond to “range of threats”
By Lisa Hamilton
Commander of the United States (U.S.) Southern Command, Admiral Craig S. Faller has assured that the U.S. presence in Guyana to improve defence cooperation between the two countries was not motivated by the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.
Though he agreed that Venezuela’s President, Nicholas Maduro is an “indicted narcotics trafficker” and part of the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed Tuesday is to tackle narcotics trafficking, Admiral Faller said that the ongoing collaboration is meant to prepare the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to respond to a range of threats.
On Tuesday, following the signing the Agreement between the U.S and Guyana, the signatories, Admiral Faller and Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess fielded questions from the media on Venezuela given the recent Decree by the Venezuelan leader claiming the Essequibo region.
Questioned whether the U.S. would provide military assistance to Guyana given its recent expression of support for the jurisdiction of International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, Admiral Faller said that his visit to Guyana was only to discuss defence cooperation which covers a range of threats.
The U.S. official informed the media that his visit to Guyana was planned months ago following the visit of U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo in September 2020.
Regarding the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, he said that he believes that such matters are better spoken upon by international organisations that can help bring about peaceful resolutions.
“The controversy over borders and territories, as our State Department has clearly articulated, is best left to legitimate international organizations that put this on a peaceful path…the US supports the international process that’s in place for peaceful resolution of a border controversy. Our focus and the focus that General Bess and I have is working on areas that we can enhance our bilateral relationship. Things that will strengthen the security of the United States and Guyana,” Admiral Faller said.
He highlighted that this is achieved through education and training and then through exercises which prepare Forces to rapidly respond to a “range of threats” such as national disasters, transnational criminal organisations and more.
What he could confirm would be provided to Guyana, through the Agreement, are logistics such as machinery parts, food, fuel, goods, services and other items important to military Forces working together.
He responded in the negative when asked whether the U.S. had plans to establish military bases in the country. He said that such would not be done without the approval of Guyana and, even so, this is not on the U.S. agenda as it regards the Agreement.
“The United States doesn’t seek to have bases anywhere in the hemisphere. We seek to have the right military presence as invited by our sovereign partners. We only come at the request of mutually agreed partnership for an exercise or training and so, our future presence here will be determined by our host, our friends and that presence will be in the form of exercises and training,” Admiral Faller said.
However, the point was posed to the U.S. Official that part of the Agreement signed is to tackle narcotics trafficking and it was Pompeo who said in Guyana in 2020 that “Maduro himself is an indicted narcotics trafficker. This means he has to leave.”
Admiral Faller responded: “This Agreement is about our bilateral relationship and it’s about our longstanding bilateral relationship. It is not aimed at any nation State or at any one particular threat. It’s designed for us to be able to operate and train and exercise effectively together. The statement that our Secretary of State made is a fact. Nicholas Maduro is a convicted narco-trafficker and the hard evidence –significant increase in narco-trafficking based out of Venezuela – is there, we see it daily and the hemisphere is impacted by that insecurity.”
Making his contribution, Brigadier Bess said that Guyana is committed to a peaceful resolution of the situation with Venezuela. He said that Guyana will continue to cooperate with the U.S. for defence diplomacy to build capacity in the GDF so that it stands ready to defend Guyana’s patrimony at any time.
He stated: “It is important to note that the Guyana Defence Force has noted with concern the rhetoric from the President, the Vice President and the Defence Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This matter has been discussed with the Commander-in-Chief, his Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali and our mode is to continue to work through the diplomatic channel to ensure that this matter is resolved peacefully.”
