–rejects suggestions US seeking control rather than partnership in Western Hemisphere
Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has rejected suggestions that the United States is seeking to dominate Guyana, declaring that the relationship between the two countries is firmly grounded in sovereignty, mutual respect and shared interests.
Speaking during an interview with CNN anchor and chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto, Ali said Guyana views Washington as an important strategic ally but remains committed to ensuring that bilateral cooperation advances the interests of both nations.
“I don’t see the U.S. as trying to force us or trying to be a dominant force with Guyana,” Ali said.
His remarks came as Guyana and the United States moved to strengthen military cooperation through a Joint Declaration for an Enhanced Defense Partnership signed Wednesday at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
The agreement was signed by Ali, in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of Guyana’s armed forces, and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Under the declaration, the United States has committed to providing sustained defense expertise, multidomain training and combined military exercises with the Guyana Defence Force.
The arrangement also provides for enhanced air-domain awareness, strengthening Guyana’s ability to monitor, identify and respond to potential threats in and around its territory.
The declaration builds on decades of military cooperation between the two countries and comes amid heightened regional security concerns, including narcotics trafficking, transnational organized crime and Venezuela’s longstanding territorial claims against Guyana.
During the CNN interview, Sciutto questioned whether the Trump administration’s approach to the Western Hemisphere, including statements about Greenland, Canada and Venezuela, raised concerns that Washington might seek control rather than partnership.
Ali responded that Guyana’s relationship with the United States must be considered within the broader context of regional cooperation and common security objectives.
He pointed to the Shield of the Americas initiative as an example of countries working together around shared priorities.
“We have made it very clear that we are deeply interested in partnership,” Ali said.
He emphasized that such partnerships must deliver mutual economic and security benefits while contributing to regional development and stability.
The president said Guyana is pursuing relations with Washington based on shared values, shared benefits and the collective prosperity of the Western Hemisphere.
“If we pursue the development of our region and the advancement of our relationship from this perspective, it will be long-term, it will be sustainable,” he said.
The president identified security and economic development as central pillars of the relationship.
The enhanced defense declaration signed Wednesday also reinforces cooperation against narcotrafficking and organizations involved in transnational criminal activities.
Both governments have identified their participation in regional security initiatives, including the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, as part of their wider efforts to address threats to stability in the Caribbean and Western Hemisphere.
Beyond defense, bilateral relations have expanded significantly through investment in Guyana’s petroleum industry, trade, infrastructure and private-sector development.
U.S. energy companies have played a major role in developing Guyana’s offshore oil resources, while cooperation between the two countries has extended into other sectors of the economy.
Ali said Guyana’s petroleum industry also includes investors from other countries, emphasizing that the government continues to pursue a diversified international investment base.
He referred to ExxonMobil, Chevron and CNOOC as major participants in the sector, alongside other companies involved in exploration.
The president maintained that Guyana’s growing international partnerships must remain consistent with its sovereign right to determine its development priorities and protect its territorial integrity.
The latest defense agreement, he indicated, should be understood within that framework of cooperation rather than as a surrender of national authority.
For Guyana, Ali said, the objective remains a durable partnership with the United States that strengthens national security, supports economic growth and contributes to the stability and prosperity of the wider region.