President Ali Visits USS Nimitz as U.S., Guyana Strengthen Defence Cooperation

President Irfaan Ali visited the USS Nimitz, one of the United States Navy’s most renowned aircraft carriers, during its deployment to the region under Southern Seas 2026, as Guyana and the United States continue to deepen defence and security cooperation.

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot invited the President aboard the vessel, describing the visit as a demonstration of the growing partnership between the U.S. military and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The USS Nimitz, which carries a crew of more than 4,000 personnel and operates some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, is currently conducting exercises with the GDF as part of its regional deployment.

Ambassador Theriot said the visit reflected the shared commitment of both countries to regional stability and cooperation.

“The United States and Guyana share a commitment to regional security and prosperity. The visit of the USS Nimitz demonstrates our dedication to working hand-in-hand with Guyana and our Caribbean partners to address shared challenges and build a safer, stronger hemisphere for all our citizens,” she stated.

The exercises are aimed at strengthening interoperability between the two militaries and enhancing their ability to respond collectively to security threats. The embassy noted that Guyana’s participation as a founding member of the Shield of the Americas Coalition further highlights its commitment to hemispheric security cooperation.

Military cooperation between Georgetown and Washington has expanded significantly in recent years amidst growing regional security concerns and Guyana’s emergence as a major oil-producing nation. The two countries have conducted joint training exercises, military exchanges and maritime security operations designed to combat transnational crime and strengthen defence capabilities.

The U.S. Embassy also highlighted ongoing collaboration under the bilateral shiprider agreement, which allows Guyanese law enforcement officers to embark on U.S. vessels participating in counter-narcotics operations. The arrangement enables joint patrols and the pursuit of suspected drug traffickers who attempt to evade authorities by entering Guyana’s territorial waters.

The visit also featured Lieutenant Commander Clint Venture of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, who previously spent six weeks aboard the USS Nimitz as an Embarked International Staff (EIS) officer. During that assignment, Venture participated in the planning and execution of bilateral engagements between the carrier and partner nations throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

The USS Nimitz deployment forms part of Southern Seas 2026, a regional mission designed to strengthen partnerships, improve interoperability among participating militaries and support security cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The visit comes as Guyana and the United States continue to broaden cooperation in defence, law enforcement and maritime security, areas both governments have identified as critical to safeguarding regional stability and addressing threats such as narcotics trafficking and other forms of transnational crime.