GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali Thursday described the United States as “one of our most important strategic partners” as he urged the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to pay close attention to the “chess play” in the Caribbean region.
President Irfaan Ali addressing the 2025 Annual Officers’ Conference of the Guyana Defence Force on Thursday (Photo Office of the President)Addressing the GDF’s 2025 Annual Officers’ Conference, Ali, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said Guyana has seen “what I describe as a philosophical chess playing among different members in the region”.
While he named no countries, Ali told the conference that what is unfolding in the region is “a philosophical chess play that has security implications and we must be able to understand what is driving these philosophical chess movements that are occurring”.
Guyana has a long standing border dispute with Venezuela and while the Caribbean Community (CARICCOM) countries have expressed support for Georgetown, some regional countries enjoy good diplomatic relations with Caracas.
The United States has publicly supported Guyana’s position regarding the border dispute with Venezuela and in his address, President Ali described the North American country as “one of our most important strategic partners” which now has a new focus on the Western Hemisphere with an important philosophy of securing borders and protecting assets.
Ali said Washington’s approach has serious implications for the movement of migrants in search of economic opportunities.
“This poses significant opportunity and challenge because migrants’ movement will take a different form, shape and destination,” he said, asking the GDF officers to determine where in the region are those opportunities and prosperity.
He said the GDF’s National Defence Institute (NDI) is key to the military’s understanding of the philosophy, problems of the region and the development of ideas.
He said the GDF officers need to be critical thinkers so that they could ultimately offer “me the best possible advice” after taking several factors in the global arena.
“If you are captured in a certain philosophical mindset, we have to understand the exposure it brings to the country,” he said.
In his address, President Ali said the GDF is a key player in the preservation of democracy and that members have the right to vote freely in general and regional elections later this year.
“Every member of the force has a right to vote according to the dictates of their conscience, and as long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, that right will be respected. The professionalism of the military will be always upheld. Our duty is to the nation, to its security and the preservation of law and order, not to any political interest.
“While we do not anticipate unrest or anything that is contrary to the rule of law, we must remain vigilant against any attempt to unsettle internal order.
“The Defence Force will be on standby, prepared to act if necessary to uphold stability and protect the democratic process,” President Ali said, adding that it should be prepared to act if necessary, to uphold stability by supporting the Guyana Police Force in “maintaining peace and order, and importantly, in sustaining democracy forever in this count.
“Our duty is to the nation, to its security and the preservation of law and order, not to any political interest,” he said, adding that “it did not go without notice, some comments made
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan said that the army remains vigilant of “constant and unscrupulous” threats to Guyana.
“Amidst all the challenges, the constant and unscrupulous claim to our territory from an increasingly unstable neighbour continues to present a clear and present danger too close to home,” Brigadier Khan said, noting that even so, he is confident in the GDF’s operational posture to execute the defense mandate.
“Commander-in-chief, I can assure you that we, the men and women of the Guyana Defence Force, have remained vigilant and will continue to do so and do not contemplate doing anything else,” Khan added.
