President Irfaan Ali and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by telephone on Tuesday about strengthening bilateral security cooperation and addressing shared regional challenges, according to a readout from the U.S. State Department.
In the call, Rubio commended President Ali for his leadership as a regional security partner and highlighted Guyana’s growing role in promoting stability across the Western Hemisphere. The senior U.S. diplomat reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to deepening security ties with Georgetown to confront issues such as illicit narcotics and firearms trafficking, which both sides described as threats to regional stability and economic resilience.
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Both leaders emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to disrupt foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal networks, enhance law enforcement capacity, and strengthen border security. Their discussion reflects growing alignment in efforts to address organised crime that affects Guyana and its neighbours.
The engagement took place amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region following recent U.S. military operations in neighbouring Venezuela, including airstrikes and the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. While Guyana has not publicly commented on those actions or the question of Venezuelan sovereignty, its government has underscored the priority of safeguarding national security and territorial integrity in the face of evolving developments along its western border.
The call underlines the United States’ interest in positioning Guyana as a key partner in its broader hemispheric security strategy, particularly as transnational crime continues to pose challenges across the Caribbean Basin and northern South America.
President Ali and Secretary Rubio agreed to sustain engagement on these issues and to expand collaboration on areas of mutual interest in coming months.
