GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (DPI) – The government of Guyana is actively seeking to expand its partnership with the United States in key areas such as crime and security, as well as food and energy security. This was reaffirmed by president Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who, along with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, hosted a press engagement after bilateral talks at State House in Georgetown, on Thursday.
“Guyana is contributing significantly in all three of these areas. The vision of Guyana is to position our country to be the leader, a global leader of energy security, food security, and climate security,” he underscored.
President Ali emphasised that as the country forges ahead in developing its energy sector and expanding its petroleum resources, it has simultaneously intensified its commitment to accomplishing its decarbonisation objectives.
In line with this commitment, the president said Guyana shared its forest-related credentials with the US and seeks a partnership with the North American State to promote forests and ensure its inclusion in the climate change agenda.
In the areas of crime and security, president Ali said the discussions primarily centred around the importance of establishing robust systems to effectively address transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking.
The president also acknowledged the significant role the US has played in providing extensive training to local law enforcement over the past two years and collaboration in combating various forms of crime.
“We are committed to continuing this partnership, expanding this partnership, building stronger relationship and thrust, creating greater network,” president Ali said.
He announced that Guyana will soon host the ‘Tradewinds Exercise,’ sponsored by the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
This exercise, he said, provides a valuable opportunity for Guyana to further strengthen its relationship with the US and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
President Ali reaffirmed that as Guyana stands on the threshold of development and transformation, the United States, as a strategic partner, has been instrumental in providing valuable assistance and support to the nation.
Moreover, he said the private sector is increasingly showing a greater interest in investing in Guyana.
The United States is Guyana’s largest trading partner, with an accumulated trade of over US$3.9 billion in 2022. The US is overall ranked the country’s number one export by destination with US$2.7 billion in 2022, and the number one import by source $US1.2 billion.
On the issue of food security, the US secretary of state acknowledged Guyana’s role in CARICOM, where the country is leading efforts to expand small farmers’ access to technology, as well as reducing barriers to trade and transportation.
Blinken said the US is investing more resources to build local capacity so that ultimately, counties across the region can build their own sustainable productive capacity.
“As the breadbasket of the Caribbean, Guyana will continue to be a crucial part of this effort,” he stated.
Meanwhile, secretary Blinken has expressed the US government’s interest in learning from the government of Guyana in relation to the country’s agenda during its tenure on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Blinken noted that Guyana and the US will also continue discussions on climate security, especially as it relates to carbon credits.
“The agreement that Guyana reached with a private corporation… is of great significance and demonstrates in a very powerful way how Guyana is all at once using responsibly the funding resources that it now has at hand, while also making investments in the climate future, and making investments in the transition to renewables,” he stated.
Accordingly, president Ali stressed that Guyana is committed to playing a significant role in global security, to ensure that all persons can enjoy a better quality of life.
“We want to ensure that our world is a safer place. And security is the foundation through which the global citizenship enjoy prosperity. There are many challenges that the world faces today. The war in Ukraine, and other challenges that contribute to conflict and convoluted barriers, do not allow the global citizen to enjoy the full prospect of life,” the head of state asserted.
He noted that the team from Guyana, which will be serving on the UNSC will be meeting with stakeholders in Washington DC, to further define and prioritise critical actions, and issues that need to be addressed.
“We sometimes forget that the role of governments is to set the tone for, to create and define the policy, and also create an enabling environment and framework through which all stakeholders can follow. And we are both committed on the issue of climate change … and decarbonisation. We are both connected on the targets we set to achieve the results of 2050, now,” president Ali stated.
