President Irfaan Ali has acknowledged the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, emphasizing their implications for Caribbean peace. He specifically noted the Venezuelan Minister of Defence’s warning that Caracas would retaliate against any attacks launched from Guyana or Trinidad.
“Our sovereignty is our business,” President Ali stated firmly.
In the past two weeks, US military air strikes on Venezuelan vessels suspected of drug trafficking resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals. When asked about these strikes, Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to maintaining peace in the region while recognizing the threat posed by transnational crime.
“While our priority is to ensure that this region remains a zone of peace, we are also conscious of the impact of drug trafficking and other illicit activities,” he said.
Guyana, along with Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Argentina, is part of a US-led coalition aimed at combating drug cartels in the region. Ali acknowledged growing concerns about the legality of targeting suspected traffickers but stressed the need to address criminals exploiting international waters.
“We are concerned about criminals using international waters and our Exclusive Economic Zone,” he said, highlighting efforts to enhance air surveillance against narco-traffickers operating over Guyana.
The President emphasized that Guyana must invest in securing its borders to preserve regional peace and safety.
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