# United States-Guyana defense and security cooperation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/united-states-guyana-defense-and-security-cooperation
> Updated: 2026-10-21T21:13:37.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2.

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty amid regional geopolitical shifts and border disputes involving Venezuela. U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot stated that Washington stands ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Guyana regarding its borders and political stability.

To address security concerns stemming from Guyana’s growing oil and gas revenues, the two nations are strengthening partnerships in maritime and air domain awareness. This cooperation aims to combat transnational organized crime, narcotrafficking, and narcoterrorist organizations through frameworks like the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition and the Shield of the Americas.

This relationship was formalized through a Joint Declaration for an Enhanced Defense Partnership signed at the Pentagon by President Irfaan Ali and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Under this agreement, the U.S. Department of War will provide the Guyana Defence Force with sustained defense expertise, multidomain training, and combined exercises to build a modern defense architecture and deter malign state and non-state actors. President Ali emphasized that the cooperation is vital for maintaining stability in the face of regional security challenges, specifically the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela regarding the Essequibo region.

## Claims

- President Irfaan Ali and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed the Joint Declaration for an Enhanced Defense Partnership at the Pentagon. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The U.S. Department of War will provide defense expertise, multidomain training, and combined exercises to the Guyana Defence Force. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The partnership includes cooperation to confront narco-terrorist organizations and narcotrafficking. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The agreement aims to strengthen Guyana’s air-domain awareness to monitor and respond to threats. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- President Ali stated that Guyana is working with the U.S. as a partner and is a sovereign state. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Guyana is seeking a peaceful resolution to the border controversy with Venezuela through the International Court of Justice. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The U.S. military campaign in the Caribbean has resulted in at least 238 deaths in strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels since September 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The government is working to maximize benefits from the existing Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: Guyana and United States sign enhanced defense partnership

Guyana and the U.S. signed a landmark defense agreement at the Pentagon to enhance military training, air-domain awareness, and joint operations against narco-terrorist organizations.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guyana-and-united-states-sign-enhanced-defense-partnership-agreement

### 2026-09-29: United States reaffirms support for Guyana’s territorial integrity

U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot reaffirmed support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and pledged enhanced security cooperation to combat narcotrafficking and protect its growing energy sector.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-reaffirms-support-for-guyanas-territorial-integrity

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Cite as: United States-Guyana defense and security cooperation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/united-states-guyana-defense-and-security-cooperation