Defence

Venezuela on Thursday reacted sharply to two United States (US) fighter jets overflying Georgetown and surrounding areas as part of defence cooperation, accusing Washington and Georgetown of conspiring to provoke regional peace. “The Bolivarian National Armed Forces strongly reject these repeated provocations by the Southern Command, sponsored by the government of Guyana, which has assumed the role of a new ...

The United States (US) embassy said two military fighter jets, F/A-18/F Super Hornets, would fly over Georgetown on Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. “Today, at 2:00 pm, with collaboration and approval from the Government of Guyana, two U.S. Navy aircraft, F/A-18F Super Hornets, embarked on the USS George Washington, will conduct a Guyana Defence Force-coordinated and approved flyover of Georgetown ...

The United States (US) Army’s Southern Command (SouthCom) is helping the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) strengthen its technological capacity to respond to threats and that featured in talks between high-ranking officials of the two sides, the American embassy here said. The US Marine Corps Major General, Julie Nethercot, SouthCom’s Strategy, Policy, and Plans Director held discussions with GDF Chief-of-Defence Staff, ...

The Offshore Patrol Vessel, GDFS Shahoud, finally arrived in Guyana on Sunday and docked at the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard headquarters at about 10:30 AM, well-placed sources said. Modeled as the 115 Defiant, the vessel should have arrived in Guyana last year October, but that was shifted to February, 2024. However, sources said the vessel, made by the American ...

The Guyana government on Tuesday welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) statement on Venezuela’s recently approved law that sets the groundwork for the seizure of the county of Essequibo. A questionable referendum last December has already incorporated the Essequibo County into Venezuela’s map which means that it is no longer labelled the Zone of Reclamation. According to the law, ...

The 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is concerned about the possible escalation of tensions between Venezuela and Guyana. The Council met on April 11 at the request of Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali amid heightened moves by Venezuela. They included the approval of a law that effectively sets the basis for Venezuela to seize Guyana’s Essequibo Region. Following is the ...

by Retired Rear Admiral, Dr Gary Best The Ali administration seems not to understand, or deliberately misunderstands the concept of defence diplomacy. See my opinions published by Demerara Waves Online on September 2023 and February 2024. And even less interested in spending taxpayers’ dollars to defend Guyana, as a priority. Defence diplomacy is a conjoined term. It means the ability ...

A French company has sealed a deal with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to build a US$42-million military offshore patrol vessel (OPV), a move that has triggered a sharp rebuke by Venezuela. “The price of the vessel includes the cost of the vessel and its equipment and the integrated logistics support services inclusive of training for a five-year period,” the ...

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday unanimously supported respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law, at a closed door meeting that Guyana requested to address Venezuela’s moves to possibly seize the Essequibo Region. “I think Venezuela found it hard to find a friend,” a source told Demerara Waves Online News on condition of anonymity. “I think the ...

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is Tuesday set to discuss Venezuela’s latest effort to lay claim to the Essequibo Region, a move that the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is worried that could lead to physical action against Guyana. CARICOM said that in its adoption of “the Organic Law for the Defence of Guyana Essequiba”, the Venezuelan government has acted ...