US, GDF in joint exercise offshore Guyana; GDF participates in Conference of American Armies

Last Updated on Sunday, 23 November 2025, 21:52 by Writer

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the United States (US) are continuing their collaboration in tackling drugs trafficking in the Caribbean.

A US military release states the GDF’s Defiant-class patrol vessel, GDFS Shahoud (1039), operated with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Guyana on Saturday, November 22.

The US said its military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the US Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the American president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the American homeland.

The GDF, for its part, said it successfully completed a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the US Navy on Saturday within Guyana’s territorial waters, “further strengthening the growing regional partnership between the two nations.”

“The engagement involved the GDFS Shahoud and the USS Mahan and was conducted to strengthen coordination between the two maritime forces.

The exercise enhanced interoperability, communication, and tactical readiness, improving the GDF Coast Guard’s ability to operate alongside partner nations during future security, tactical, and contingency operations. The successful completion of this PASSEX also reaffirmed the strong and growing security cooperation between Guyana and the United States,” the GDF added.

The GDF says it remains committed to building professional capacity, deepening international partnerships, and safeguarding Guyana’s maritime domain.

Meanwhile, the GDF in a separate statement said that Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts recently attended the closing session of the 36th Cycle of the Conference of American Armies (CAA) held in Mexico City, where he represented the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan.

CAA is partly supported by US Army South, a component of the US Southern Command.

During one of the plenary sessions, Colonel Roberts, according to the GDF, delivered remarks that underscored the importance of solidarity, cooperation, and the exchange of strategic ideas in addressing emerging threats.

He noted that the work of Cycle 36 reaffirmed the region’s shared commitment to peace, stability, democratic values, and collective preparedness. He further highlighted that Guyana remains fully aligned with initiatives that support regional security and strengthen partnerships among member armies.

The CAA, comprising the commanders of 24 armies across the Western Hemisphere, is a longstanding hemispheric forum which serves as a platform for the senior army leaders to engage in dialogue on shared security concerns, operational challenges, and opportunities for deeper cooperation across the Americas.

Colonel Roberts was accompanied by Commanding Officer of the 31 Special Forces Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Loring Benons.

Throughout the conference, delegates examined a range of complex regional issues, including interoperability, strategic communication, humanitarian assistance, cybersecurity, and the evolving security landscape, the GDF said in a statement.

Colonel Roberts’ engagement at this high-level forum reinforced the GDF’s ongoing efforts to build strategic relationships, participate in regional security dialogue, and contribute to collective defence initiatives. His participation enhanced Guyana’s presence and voice within the multinational military community of the Americas.