The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard has completed a joint Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the United States Navy inside Guyana’s territorial waters, marking another step in the deepening security partnership between Georgetown and Washington.
The exercise involved the GDFS Shahoud and the USS Mahan, a U.S. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer currently deployed in the Caribbean. According to a GDF release, the coordinated drill strengthened interoperability, improved communication, and enhanced tactical readiness between both forces.
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“The successful completion of this PASSEX reaffirms the strong and growing security cooperation between Guyana and the United States,” the statement noted. “The GDF remains committed to building professional capacity, deepening international partnerships, and safeguarding Guyana’s maritime domain.”
Exercise Amid Regional Tensions
The engagement comes at a sensitive moment, as a major U.S. military presence builds in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Navy has carried out more than 20 strikes on suspected drug-running vessels across the region, resulting in over 80 deaths — actions that have drawn international criticism and raised questions about proportionality and jurisdiction.
The USS Mahan, part of the task force operating in the Caribbean, arrived through the Anegada Passage on November 16 as part of Operation Southern Spear, a U.S. Department of Defense mission targeting illicit maritime trafficking networks across the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Defense Department Statement
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the exercise, emphasizing the strategic value of the partnership:
“A cooperative maritime presence with our allies and partners, including Guyana, is not optional — it is essential,” said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. “Our regional security, and that of the United States, depends on our unwavering commitment to cooperation and demonstrable strength at sea.”
During the exercise, Guyanese sailors embarked the USS Mahan to participate in ship-handling and communication drills aimed at strengthening joint operational capability.
The Pentagon said the mission underscores its commitment to regional stability, maritime domain awareness, and protecting partner nations from transnational criminal networks.
