Guyana to join US-led anti-narco-terrorism coalition

Last Updated on Thursday, 5 March 2026, 22:04 by Writer

Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Thursday said Guyana would be part of a United States (US)-backed coalition to fight narco-terrorism in the Americas.

“Guyana welcomes the adoption of the Joint Security Declaration of this Conference and looks forward to joining the coalition to combat narco-terrorism,” said Mr Phillips, a retired Brigadier and former Head of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Mr Phillips was among regional defense and security leaders from the Caribbean, Central America and South America at the US Southern Command headquarters in Doral, Florida on Thursday at the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference, ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and several other leaders of the Americas on Saturday.

“The Government of Guyana remains committed to being a reliable and active partner in advancing the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere,” Mr Phillips added.

He said the coalition would be particularly beneficial to Guyana at a time when transnational activities of cartels, gangs, and other criminal actors threaten regional peace and security. He said those networks undermine the rule of law, weaken institutions, and threaten democracy and the safety and economic wellbeing of citizens.

“For countries like Guyana, located along important maritime and regional transit corridors, addressing narco-trafficking and narco-terrorism requires strong cooperation among our nations. These threats demand coordinated intelligence sharing, enhanced operational cooperation, and strengthened defense capabilities across the hemisphere,” he said.

The Prime Minister said Guyana and the United States share a strong and expanding strategic partnership built on mutual trust and robust defence and security cooperation.

Mr Phillips added that through capacity building, joint exercises, and policy and technical engagements, our countries have worked closely together to combat narco-trafficking and other forms of transnational crime.

He said as the region continues to grow economically and strategically, they must work together to protect critical infrastructure, strengthen national institutions, enhance their resilience to evolving security threats, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every state.

“Through deeper cooperation and partnership, we can ensure that our hemisphere remains safe, secure, and a Zone of Peace,” he said.