GDF Vessel Completes Groundbreaking Mission to French Guiana

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has marked a significant achievement in regional defence relations with the recent return of the GDFS Shahoud from what officials describe as a historic visit to French Guiana — the first time a Guyanese naval vessel has entered the neighbouring territory.

Formed on 1 November 1965, the GDF has grown from a small post-independence defence unit into a multi-branch military responsible for safeguarding Guyana’s borders and maritime domain. The Shahoud’s mission, senior officers say, demonstrates how far the Force’s maritime capabilities have advanced in recent decades.

According to a GDF statement, the offshore patrol vessel concluded a seven-day deployment to the naval installation at Dégrad des Cannes, labelled by the Force as “a historic milestone in regional military cooperation and maritime diplomacy.”

Acquired to bolster Guyana’s maritime security architecture, the 115-foot Shahoud plays a central role in protecting the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Named after the late Colonel Michael Shahoud, who died in a helicopter crash, the vessel routinely supports operations targeting piracy, illegal fishing, and transnational trafficking — missions that have greatly expanded the Coast Guard’s operational reach.

Before departure, Coast Guard Commander David Shamsudeen commended the crew’s professionalism and reminded them of the mission’s strategic significance, underscoring its value “as a step toward deeper operational cooperation between the Guyana Defence Force and the French Navy.”

During the historic port call, the Shahoud’s crew participated in joint training exercises and exchanged operational knowledge with French naval counterparts. A reception held aboard the vessel drew senior officials, including representatives of the French Prefect, the Commander of the Joint Forces of French Guiana, Major General Gérard Laborie, along with officers of the French Armed Forces and other guests.

Lieutenant Commander Ronald McIntyre, the vessel’s commanding officer, described the visit as both an honour and a symbol of strengthening regional ties. He observed that “the Atlantic that separates Guyana and French Guiana is not a divide, but a shared space, a bridge of cooperation and opportunity.”

The GDF noted that the deployment aligns with commitments made during the Third Strategic Dialogue of the Guiana Shield, hosted in Guyana in April 2024, where participating nations reaffirmed their intent to deepen defence and security partnerships.

With the Shahoud’s successful return, the GDF says the mission highlights the Force’s expanding maritime capacity and reinforces its commitment to regional cooperation, security coordination, and the protection of the wider Atlantic-Caribbean maritime environment.