Dear Editor,
At the request of the Ukrainian President, the Swiss government organised a Peace Summit last weekend. The Summit, attended by around 100 countries and multilateral organisations from around the world, had as its purpose, finding a path to peace in Ukraine which for over two years has been battling to repel the Russian invasion of its territory.
Attendees included leading countries of the world such as Brazil, Canada, France, France, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UK and the USA, as well as organisations such as the EU, OAS and the United Nations. Russia, which had opposed the idea of such a Summit, was not invited and there is no indication that its enablers China, Iran and North Korea were invited. For completeness, it is noted that several of these named attending countries did not sign the Summit’s closing statement. That, however, is not entirely relevant to the purpose of this letter.
Guyana was not among the countries attending the Summit, meaning that it was a missed opportunity by the Government to engage in bilateral discussions with other countries on the Venezuelan threat to Guyana. Guyana must recognise that no amount of military spending will allow the country to repel any invasion by that country. In as much that we were impressed by the US fighter jets flying across Guyana as a show of strength and support, Guyana’s best guarantee in its controversy with Venezuela is to canvas and garner diplomatic support of countries that matter. Guyana shares with Ukraine and Taiwan the danger of being overrun by a neighbouring bully.
The country has, not one, but two foreign ministers and has recently made two diplomatic appointments to Europe. The failure must therefore be seen not as unavailability of personnel but of policy and intent. Indeed, having delegated to his Vice President the task of managing the fallout from the US announcement of sanctions against its former friends and members, President Ali should have been free to represent Guyana at the Summit.
In my view, Guyana should be seeking membership of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (the Rio Treaty) signed in 1947. The essential features of this Treaty are similar to those of the NATO Agreement signed in 1949, both providing for mutual defence, collective security and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Venezuela is a member of the Treaty having reactivated its membership in 2019 after a withdrawal in 2012. It may object to Guyana’s application, but we must at least try.
Sincerely,
Christopher Ram
