The U.S. Embassy today said that as part of the United States’ continued commitment to Guyana and its security, Navy Admiral Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, will visit Guyana January 11-13.
A release from the Embassy said that he will meet with government and defence leaders and discuss the bilateral security partnership between the United States and Guyana.
His visit will come days after the scheduled arrival in Guyana’s waters of a US Coast Guard vessel.
During his stay, the release said that Faller is scheduled to meet with President Irfaan Ali and Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess. The Admiral will also take part in the signing of an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement between the militaries of the two countries which will pave the way for the exchange of goods or services of equal value to support future bilateral defence cooperation.
The release said that the United States and Guyana have a longstanding history of security cooperation. “The defense partnership between the two countries includes collaboration against regional threats and challenges, capacity-building engagements, bilateral training, expertise exchanges, exercises, and participation in military education programs. During the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit in 2020, the two countries signed a Shiprider agreement which allows for maritime cooperation between the two countries”, the release noted.
The U.S. Southern Command’s top military leader last visited the country in 2017, when Guyana became the first South American nation to host the Caribbean Nations Security Conference.
The release said that the command is one of the Department of Defense’s six geographically-focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.