US to help Guyana monitor airspace for drug trafficking, strengthen border security

The United States (U.S.) intends to finance acquisition of a sophisticated system that would allow Guyana to monitor its airspace as part of ongoing efforts to combat drugs trafficking and increase border security, the American embassy here said Tuesday.

The decision was made public during Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau’s visit to Guyana, and the embassy said the two countries reaffirmed their intent to strengthen counternarcotics and border security cooperation, consistent with the March 2025 U.S.-Guyana Security Cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU).

“Building on this, the United States intends to provide $2 million for a new initiative developing air domain awareness and unmanned aerial system capabilities,” the embassy said in a statement.

The US Department of Homeland Security explains that air domain awareness is essential for a wide range of security and defense activities, especially prevention of and responses to potential incursions and other illegal activities at various points of entry into the country.

President Irfaan Ali has previously expressed concern about drug-laden planes illegally flying over or landing in Guyana.

In the past, drug planes have been seized in Guyana and neighbouring Suriname.

US-Guyana security cooperation also focuses heavily on interoperability.

The US assistance with domain awareness also comes amid sporadic armed attacks on Guyanese soldiers from neighbouring Venezuela with which Guyana has a long-running border controversy over the Essequibo Region.

The embassy said Mr Landau’s visit underscores the US’ commitment to strengthening partnerships across the Western hemisphere and advancing shared priorities, including regional security, energy resilience, and economic prosperity.

The embassy also said Dr Ali and Mr Landau discussed expanding bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening investment opportunities, with a focus on strategic sectors including energy and critical minerals.

President Ali’s post on Facebook provided no details, but said he witnessed the signing of an MoU between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau “intended to enhance the existing” memorandum of security cooperation between Guyana and the United States of America.

“The MoU strengthens and deepens the long‑standing partnership, building on earlier cooperation in countering narcotics and wider security collaboration,” he said.

Also attending the signing were ministers Ashni Singh (finance) and Vickram Bharrat (natural resources), foreign secretary Robert Persaud, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharon Roopchand‑Edwards, and US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot.