US Southern Command Chief Visits Guyana for Security Talks

United States Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), arrived in Guyana on Thursday for a series of high-level discussions aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and promoting regional stability.

During his visit, Admiral Holsey is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is currently performing the duties of President, and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan.

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy, talks will focus on “accelerating security cooperation, ensuring regional stability, and reaffirming the United States’ steadfast support for Guyana’s territorial integrity.” The Embassy emphasised that the U.S.–Guyana defense partnership is a long-standing one, built on collaboration to counter transnational threats, enhance military capacity, and expand bilateral training and professional development programs.

The Embassy further noted that U.S. Southern Command works closely with American agencies and regional partners “to advance security and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean — partnerships that are essential to hemispheric security, prosperity, and the collective ability to address complex security challenges.”

Admiral Holsey, a native of Fort Valley, Georgia, was commissioned in 1988 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at Morehouse College, where he earned a degree in Computer Science. He later obtained a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University.

Throughout his distinguished naval career, Holsey has commanded multiple ships and units, including the Navy’s first hybrid electric propulsion warship, USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and served as commander of Carrier Strike Group One aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

He was promoted to Admiral on November 7, 2024, and assumed command of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations and partnerships across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Admiral Holsey, who will retire on December 12, 2025, after more than 37 years of service, has received numerous decorations, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and Legion of Merit, among others.