US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected here in June this year, sources say, which would make him the second holder of that office to visit this country in less than two years.
News of Blinken’s planned trip comes just weeks after the visit of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti in the US Department of State, Barbara Feinstein.
Blinken’s visit would underscore the growing importance of Guyana to the US in the context of its rising role as an oil producer. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sharpened the emphasis on finding new energy suppliers.
Sources told Stabroek News that plans are still being worked on to facilitate the visit but that it is not surprising given that Guyana holds “significant interest” to the US .
“If we look at the economic interest. That is significant. They have one of the largest multinational companies in ExxonMobil investing here with a very strong economic portfolio being developed over the years since discovery. We also see the question of the sphere of influence in this region,” one source said while pointing out that other US companies’ interests have “ballooned” since oil discovery.
“…I think the US, in order to protect its economic and strategic interests, is there putting interest in Guyana,” the source added.
Washington has been jostling with China for influence in this part of the world and the visit by Blinken could come near to the 50th anniversary of the historic establishment of diplomatic ties between Guyana and Beijing. The visit would also signal strongly that the Biden administration intends to intensify ties with this country particularly given its proximity to Venezuela.
Blinken had last year met virtually with foreign ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states in what the US said was “to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to working with all countries in the region to advance bilateral and regional interests.”
Foreign ministers from Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago participated in the event, along with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Then, a release from the Department of State had stated, Blinken emphasized the strong partnership between the United States and the Caribbean, plans to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and promote a regional economic recovery, cooperation on increasing climate resilience, and continued collaboration on strengthening security, democratic values, and human rights.
The Trump administration’s US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Guyana in September 2020. Up to that point, no US Secretary of State had ever visited Guyana. Pompeo’s visit was seen as underscoring the growing importance of relations with Guyana and also to emphasise the triumph of democracy following the brazen attempt to rig general elections that year.
Pompeo had been at the helm of a barrage of statements aimed at the Granger administration, warning it to uphold free and fair elections.
On July 15, 2020, Pompeo announced visa restrictions on individuals undermining democracy here and said that the Granger administration must respect the results of democratic elections and step aside.
Pompeo, speaking at the State Department in Washington, said that immediate family members of these individuals could also be affected.
“Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana. Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to restrictions. The Granger Government must respect the result of democratic elections and step aside”, he had said.
The results of the elections were finally declared on August 2nd, 2020.
During his visit to Guyana, Pompeo signed a number of agreements.
