US Deputy Secretary of State to hold energy, minerals talks with Ali

Last Updated on Sunday, 9 August 2026, 17:24 by Writer

United States (U.S.) Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will this week meet with President Irfaan Ali in Georgetown to focus several areas of American economic interests, the U.S. state department said Sunday.

“The visit will also focus on enhancing collaboration in strategic sectors including energy and critical minerals,” the State Department said.

During his August 9-12 visit to the Caribbean, Mr Landau would also travel to Trinidad and Tobago to meet with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to “further strengthen the bilateral relationship, including to discuss shared energy and security priorities and advance economic cooperation.”

ExxonMobil is leading an ultra-deepwater exploration exercise in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Deputy Secretary Landau’s visit underscores the United States’ commitment to strengthening partnerships across our hemisphere and advancing shared priorities, including regional security, energy resilience, and economic prosperity,” the state department said.

Mr Landau’s visit to Guyana will come less than one week after the US Department of War (DOW) said it is investing US$85.5 million to help acquire a bauxite mine in the South American country to guarantee refractory-grade bauxite instead of turning to China for supplies.

The DOW said refractory-grade bauxite is necessary for manufacturing high-temperature-resistant materials used to make critical components for U.S. warfighters such as heat shields, thermal barriers, and turbine engines in guided missiles, rockets, military aircraft, and space systems.

Beyond defense, this high-purity bauxite is a vital raw material for steel and aluminium production, energy infrastructure, and industrial furnaces, making it a cornerstone of a modern, industrial economy.

The DOW’s Economic Defense Unit said that funding from the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme would be complemented by an additional US$64.5 million co-investment from the private sector.

The Deputy Secretary of State’s visit to Guyana also follows a briefing at the White House on the Wales Gas-to-Energy project in Guyana, being partly financed by a $526 million loan from the US Export-Import Bank, by Chief Financial Officer of Lindsayca Grean Fuentes.

Executive Director of the White House’s National Energy Dominance Council Jarrod Agen said on Friday on LinkedIn: “Excellent work by John Jovanovic (Chairman and President of US EXIMBANK) and his team along with Lindsayca Guyana Inc to create hundreds of American jobs and promote American business all with a project that will immediately bring reliable and affordable power to Guyana.

“Under President Trump, US companies have truly helped transform the Western Hemisphere into the center of  energy dominance for the world!”