Senior Biden Administration Officials Say They Remain Committed to Security Cooperation With Guyana

GEORGETOWN. Guyana – The Biden administration and the government of Guyana say they remain committed to enhancing cooperation and coordination concerning Venezuela’s December 3 referendum.

National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan and Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert PersaudThe matter was discussed earlier this week  during a meeting between a high-level team of the US National Security Council led by National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan and Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud.

The meeting, held at the White House on Monday.

The upcoming  referendum seeks a stamp of approval from Venezuelans not to recognise the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve the territorial controversy over the Essequibo Region, and the establishment of Essequibo as a state of Venezuela.

 The intent is to be responsible for the current and future inhabitants of that Guyanese county and they would be granted citizenship and national identification cards.

For Guyana and the United States of America, security cooperation remains a key component of their strategic partnership,” said the government’s information service in a release.

Already top officials of the US Army and their counterparts of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) this week wrapped up two days of talks on what the American embassy here said focussed on “upcoming engagements to include strategic planning sessions and processes to enhance both countries’ military readiness and capabilities to respond to security threats.”

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said it was monitoring the situation between Venezuela and Guyana and that defense actions “have been intensified” in the border region.