By Mark DaCosta- The February 17, 2025, armed assault on six Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers along the Cuyuni River is more than just an isolated border skirmish — it is a dire warning, says a Guyanese analyst. This brutal attack, carried out by armed assailants from the Venezuelan side, left six soldiers wounded, two critically, and exposed the sheer inadequacy of Guyana’s security and diplomatic response to the existential threat posed by Venezuela.
The question every Guyanese citizen should be asking is: what is the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government doing to protect the nation’s sovereignty? The answer, disturbingly, appears to be nothing substantial.
A Government in Denial
From all indications, the PPP administration, rather than acknowledging the gravity of the situation, has downplayed the attack, attributing it to so-called ‘criminal gangs’ rather than recognising it for what it truly is — an act of aggression from a hostile neighbour with expansionist ambitions.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has dismissed the incident as a ‘false-flag operation’ by Guyana, a claim so absurd that it barely warrants a response. Yet, the PPP government has remained largely silent, failing to mount an aggressive diplomatic or military response to defend our national security.
This is not the first time Venezuela has tested Guyana’s resolve. Over the past year, President Nicolás Maduro’s government has escalated its provocative actions, including the construction of a military-linked bridge to the disputed Ankoko Island.
This brazen development serves as a launchpad for further incursions into Guyanese territory. Instead of countering this growing threat with firm and decisive action, the PPP government continues to peddle empty overtures while our soldiers are being shot at.
A Military Left Defenceless
According to commentators, the recent attack should have been a wake-up call for the government to bolster Guyana’s defence capabilities. Instead, it has only highlighted the GDF’s alarming lack of preparedness.
Despite the PPP’s boasts about economic growth, it has utterly failed to invest in modernising the country’s military. Our soldiers are left poorly equipped and under-resourced, tasked with defending a vast border with outdated weapons, limited surveillance technology, and no clear strategic guidance.
What measures has the PPP administration taken to prevent another attack? Has it increased military patrols in the region? Strengthened intelligence-gathering operations? Deployed additional troops to high-risk areas?
There is no indication that any of these steps have been taken. Instead, the government continues to act as though diplomatic statements alone will deter a regime like Maduro’s, which has consistently demonstrated that it respects only strength.
A Diplomatic Corps in Disarray
Guyana’s diplomatic response to Venezuela’s aggression has been feeble at best, non-existent at worst. Venezuela has a far-reaching diplomatic presence, with approximately 65 embassies and 47 consulates worldwide, actively pushing its claim over Essequibo on the international stage.
Guyana, on the other hand, maintains a mere 18 embassies and five consulates, many of which are understaffed or lack appointed ambassadors.
Where is Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s representative to the United Nations? Why has she not launched a full-scale diplomatic offensive, rallying international support against Venezuela’s aggression?
Why has Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Samuel Hinds, remained virtually invisible while Venezuela continues to lobby key global powers? The PPP government’s failure to mobilise its diplomatic resources is a glaring dereliction of duty that puts the nation at risk.
Even more troubling is the absence of a clear alliance-building strategy. Historically, the United States has been a counterweight to Venezuelan aggression in the region. However, with Washington increasingly focused on internal matters and shifting its foreign policy priorities, Guyana can no longer take U.S. support for granted.
The PPP government should be working aggressively to secure concrete security assurances from major global players, yet it appears content to issue meek diplomatic statements while our soldiers bleed.
Priorities Misaligned
Despite the escalating threat on our western border, the PPP government’s priorities remain bafflingly misplaced. While President Irfaan Ali has been busy discussing trade and economic policies, he has failed to address the immediate and critical issue of national security. Economic growth is meaningless if the country’s territorial integrity is compromised.
Instead of fortifying the GDF and increasing defence spending, the government continues to funnel resources into pet projects and political manoeuvring. It is unacceptable that in the face of a direct attack on our soldiers, there has been no emergency parliamentary session, no urgent security meeting, and no tangible action to demonstrate to both the nation and the world that Guyana will not tolerate such aggression.
The Opposition’s Warnings Ignored
Opposition leaders have long sounded the alarm about Venezuela’s escalating threats and the PPP’s inadequate response. They have called for a comprehensive national security strategy that includes increased military funding, modernised surveillance systems, and stronger alliances with regional and global powers.
Their concerns, however, have been dismissed by the PPP as political posturing. The events of February 17 prove that these warnings were not alarmist — they were prophetic.
A responsible government would recognise the need for unity in the face of a national crisis. Instead, the PPP continues to treat national security as a partisan issue rather than a matter of collective national interest. Their reluctance to engage the opposition and civil society in meaningful dialogue about national defence only reinforces their unwillingness to take the issue seriously.
A Nation in Peril
Arguably, the failure of the PPP government to act decisively in the wake of this attack is a betrayal of the Guyanese people. Guyanese are pointing out on social media that our soldiers put their lives on the line to protect this country, yet they are being sent into harm’s way with inadequate resources and no clear strategic support.
Our diplomats should be fighting for Guyana’s cause on the world stage, yet they remain largely inactive, allowing Venezuela’s propaganda to dominate the international narrative. Our leaders should be rallying the nation, yet they continue to operate as though this crisis does not exist.
According to a Guyanese analyst, the time for weak, reactive diplomacy and half-hearted military responses is over. The government must immediately take the following actions:
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Increase Military Readiness – Deploy more troops to border regions, improve intelligence-gathering, and invest in modern weaponry and surveillance technology.
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Launch an Aggressive Diplomatic Offensive – Demand emergency discussions at CARICOM, the United Nations, and with key international allies – who still revere democracy – to get security assurances and counter Venezuela’s narrative.
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Seek Stronger Alliances – Engage directly with Brazil, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other strategic partners to develop a concrete security plan. Also, Guyana needs to know what is the position of the United States under Trump’s leadership.
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Engage the Opposition and Civil Society – Form a bipartisan national security committee to develop a long-term defence strategy.
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Hold Venezuela Accountable – Pursue international legal action and demand sanctions against those responsible for border aggression.
Guyana is at a crossroads. The PPP government can either rise to the challenge and defend the nation with unwavering resolve, or it can continue its path of weak leadership and diplomatic inertia, putting the entire country at risk.
