Dear Editor,
Guyana becoming an emerging middle power can be done by testing the hypothesis on Guyana’s trajectory on doing so. This is looked at by studying comparatively the countries that are already Middle Powers. First according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, “In international relations the term middle power refers to a state that wields less influence on the world stage than a superpower. As the term suggest, middle powers fall in the middle of the scale measuring a country international influence.”
I attempt to look at the Middle East, including countries such as, “namely Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Algeria, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, as well as other aspiring middle powers, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.” I must say these countries had to start from somewhere before they were middle powers though not perfect but especially their foreign policies.
There is research from Georgetown University Qatar Center for International and Regional Studies that says, “This research explores how and why do Middle Eastern middle powers engage in global trade, participate in international and regional institutions, engage in peace-building operations and humanitarian missions, form alliances, and join security communities. How do they interact with super and great powers, with other middle powers, and with regional rivals? And what factors contribute to the rise and decline of middle powers in the Middle East.”
Further. Guyana can be looked as an emerging middle power comparatively with the likes of Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey and Indonesia. Looking back to the Cold War, Guyana navigated between allying with the US, the USSR and The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Today Guyana is an oil state and sits on the United Nations Security Council and must navigate its foreign policy. Examples at the UN – Guyana voted to condemn Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Guyana also voted in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza while supporting the mission in Haiti.
Like South Africa and Turkey, Guyana’s domestic affairs are not perfect. It should be remembered that Canada didn’t support the invasion of Iraq though an ally of the US. Also South Africa didn’t support the ICC warrant on President Putin but filed the case at the ICC on Israel. Brazil also condemned Russia’s illegal invasion in Ukraine while calling for peace talk. In this context, I see Guyana becoming an Emerging Middle Power.
Guyana is already a regional and Western Hemisphere leader in the OAS, CELAC and Mercosur. She is also the ally of the sole superpower, the United States of America. Only this week USAID’s “Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman held talks with senior Guyanese government leaders, civil society, and business leaders to discuss ways USAID can continue supporting inclusive economic growth, shared prosperity, and good governance in Guyana.” (U.S. Embassy Guyana). Also, “Guyana continues to lead on critical issues in the Americas such as energy, food security, climate solutions, & restoring stability to Haiti.” (Brian A. Nichols).
In developing a foreign policy for the long-term Guyana can looked to be an Emerging Middle Power. Except for Iran, the other countries of the Middle East are already in the Caribbean and Guyana.
Sincerely,
Sharmini Rampersaud
Cert Law and Politics.