We will call upon every force and friend if there are attempts to invade or destabilise Guyana- President Ali

Guyana’s Head of State, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is reaffirming that while Guyana remains committed to the diplomatic resolution of the border dispute with Venezuela, his government will not stand idly should the Bolivarian Republic attempt to destabilize or invade Guyana.

BBC’s Hardtalk Stephen Sackur interviews Guyana’s Head of State Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali (Photo courtesy of Inewsguyana)

President Ali gave this reassurance during a recently streamed interview with the BBC’s Hardtalk host, Stephen Sackur.

In response to questions about Guyana’s ongoing tense relationship with neighbor Venezuela and how this could potentially affect the country’s booming oil and gas sector and economy, Dr Ali explained that Guyana’s first line of defense has always been diplomacy and the country will stand by the ruling of the International Court of Justice.

However, he says his Government recognises that Venezuela is an aggressive neighbour that has made certain threats so naturally there have been renewed and increased investment in the military, and its technology. He also mentioned that there is also special investments being placed in infrastructure.

Added to this, the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces pointed out that Guyana has also aligned with several countries with extensive resources.

The United States of America, The United Kingdom, Canada, France and the Caricom members are among the countries that have signaled support for Guyana’s sovereignty.

According to President Ali Guyana is working with international partners who want to ensure stability in the region.

“We are working on the basis of an international coalition that would not allow this region to be destabilized by any action by Venezuela to overrun our territorial integrity or our borders.”

Responding to a question from the British journalist about satellite images of armored vehicles and armed coastal vessels gathering at disputed border on land and water, Guyana’s leader said he has been explicit that should there be any breach of territorial space or attempts by anyone to destabilize or invade, Guyana will be calling on allies to help protect its territorial integrity.

“We have made it very clear that if there is any breach in our territorial space, if there is any action by anyone to destabilize our country and to invade in any way, shape, or form that we will call upon every force and every friend to help us and to work with us to protect our territorial integrity.”

Last December, the Venezuela Government held a referendum claiming sovereignty of the Essequibo region of Guyana. Following this, President Ali and President Nicolas Maduro met in St Vincent and the Grenadines and agreed that both countries would not directly or indirectly, threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.

The Agreement since titled the Joint Declaration of Argyle boasts 11 points of agreement for the two countries.

Flashback: The historic face-to-face meeting between President Dr Irfaan Ali and President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela in the presence of CARICOM, CELAC, Brazil and the United Nations, on December 14, 2023, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

However, days later President Maduro ordered Venezuela’s armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after it was announced that the UK’s warship, HMS Trent would be visiting Guyana while in the Caribbean hunting drug smugglers.