US Secretary of State praises Ali for leadership in regional security

United States (US) Secretary of State, Marco Rubio on Tuesday told President Irfaan Ali that he welcomed his role in tackling regional security issues, according to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

“He commended President Ali for his leadership as a regional security partner and for Guyana’s growing role in promoting stability across our hemisphere,” Mr Piggott said in a brief statement.

Mr Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to deepening security cooperation with Guyana to address shared challenges, including illicit narcotics and firearms trafficking, which threaten regional stability and economic resilience.

“Both leaders underscored the importance of continued collaboration to disrupt foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal networks while strengthening law enforcement capabilities and border security,” the US State Department’s deputy spokesman added.

The conversation between the US Secretary of State and President Ali came three days after the US bombed a number of key military installations in Venezuela while simultaneously deploying troops on the ground in Caracas to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to stand trial in the US.

Mr Maduro, identifying himself as President of Venezuela, pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism, drugs and weapons charges. He remains in custody until March 17, the start of his trial.

A day later, President Ali highlighted stability, respect for law, and democratic transition as being critical to the future of Venezuela and the broader Americas.

And Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said in a separate statement that Mr Rubio and Dr Ali spoke on Tuesday morning on “recent developments in Venezuela and other issues of importance in the Western Hemisphere.”

Mr Persaud said President Ali welcomed Secretary Rubio’s reaffirmation of the US’s continued support for and partnership with Guyana in defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both President Ali and Secretary Rubio committed to remain engaged on areas discussed and other areas of mutual interest.

President Ali commended the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio in reaffirming a shared commitment to freedom, democracy and regional security, according to the Foreign Secretary.

President Ali reiterated Guyana’s steadfast commitment to working with the United States – the region’s strategic and important security ally.

The President re-emphasised Guyana’s support for every effort to combat transnational crime, including drugs and gold smuggling, and narco-terrorism.

The President also reiterated Guyana’s respect for the rule of law, free and fair elections, upholding of democratic norms and the furtherance of peace and prosperity for all the people of the region, the Guyanese Foreign Secretary added.

Guyana and the US on December 9, 2025 signed an “expanded” military cooperation agreement, but the details of that pact had not been revealed.

In the face of persistent Venezuelan aggression over its claim to the 160,000 square kilometre Essequibo Region, Guyana has forged extremely close military and security cooperation with the US.

The international partners with which Guyana has come to rely on should there be a military attack by Venezuela are the US, Britain and France.