The United States yesterday emphasised its respect for the sovereignty of nations and said that it is not looking to establish a military base in Guyana, or Latin America and the Caribbean region, but will continue to form alliances and work with regional partners to combat transnational crime, promote human rights and preserve democracy.
“The United States doesn’t seek to have bases anywhere in the hemisphere. We seek to have the right military presence as invited by our Sovereign Partners so we so we only come at the request of mutually agreed partnership for an exercise or training and so our future presence here is will be determined by our hosts are friends,” Admiral Craig Faller, Commander of the US Defence Department’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) yesterday said.
He was at the time speaking at a joint press conference which followed the signing of a cross-servicing agreement between Georgetown and Washington.
Desiring to further the interoperability, readiness, and effectiveness of their respective military forces through increased logistic cooperation, both countries resolved to conclude an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement.
The Agreement was signed by Admiral Faller on behalf of the US and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Godfrey Bess for Guyana.
The agreement states that it was entered into for the “purpose of establishing basic terms, conditions, and procedures to facilitate the reciprocal provision of Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services.”
“This Agreement is intended to facilitate reciprocal logistic support between the Parties to be used primarily during combined exercises, training, deployments, port calls, operations, or other cooperative efforts, or for unforeseen circumstances or exigencies in which one of the Parties may have a need for Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services. This Agreement applies to the provision of Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services from the military forces of one Party to the military forces of the other Party in exchange for Monetary Reimbursement, Replacement-In-Kind, or Equal-Value-Exchange of Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services to the military forces of the Supplying Party,” the agreement states.
“All activities of the Parties under this Agreement and any Implementing Arrangements shall be carried out in accordance with their respective national laws and regulations. All obligations of the Parties under this Agreement and any applicable Implementing Arrangements shall be subject to the availability of funds for such purposes. Unless otherwise agreed in advance, a Party shall not place an Order and receive support under this Agreement or any applicable Implement-ing Arrangement unless it has funds (or agreed-upon in-kind or equal-value support) available to pay for such support. If a Party discovers that it does not have the funds (or agreed-upon in-kind or equal-value support) to fulfill its obligations, it shall promptly notify the other Party, which shall have the right to discontinue its provision of any support that was to be paid for with such funds (or agreed-upon in-kind or equal-value support). This shall not affect the obligation of a Party to pay for support already received,” it adds.
However, the agreement states that not eligible for transfer and specifically excluded from its coverage, are weapon systems and major end items of equipment, which it explains exceptions for.
Also excluded from transfer by either Party under the Agreement, are any items which are prohibited by the countries’ national laws or regulations.
Terms and Conditions
With all activities under the Agreement and any Implementing Arrangements to be carried out at the unclassified level, the terms and conditions of the agreement was shared.
It states that each Party shall make its best efforts, consistent with national priorities, to satisfy requests from the other party for Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services.
However, when an Implementing Arrangement contains a stricter standard for satisfying such requests, certain arrangement protocols apply.
“Orders may be placed or accepted only by the POCs identified in the separate, written notifications exchanged between the Parties. When the military forces of the Guyana Defence Force require Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services outside the U.S. Southern Command (“USSOUTHCOM”) Area of Responsibility, they may place Orders directly with the cognizant POC or may seek the assistance of USSOUTHCOM or a USSOUTHCOM component command, to place an Order with a non-USSOUTHCOM POC. An Implementing Arrangement under this Agreement may be negotiated on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense by the Headquarters of U.S. Combatant Commands, or their designees. Implementing Arrangements may be negotiated on behalf of the Guyana Defence Force by their designees,” the agreement explains.
“Prior to submitting a written Order, the Receiving Party’s POC should initially contact the Supplying Party’s POC, including by telephone, fax, or e-mail, to ascertain availability, price, and desired method of repayment for required Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services. Orders shall include all the data elements in Annex A to this Agreement, as well as any other terms and details necessary to carry out the Transfer,” its adds, while explaining the process.
Yesterday’s agreement follows the Shiprider maritime pact for joint patrols, signed last September when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited this country. It will see personnel from the two countries being placed on each other’s vessels.
The Shiprider agreement is a reactivation and endorsement of an agreement already agreed to many years ago but never entered into force.
