See below the full statement issued by the United States Embassy in Georgetown:
The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Defense, Daniel P. Erikson will travel to Guyana from January 8 – 9. In his capacity, DASD Erikson is responsible for U.S. defense and security policy for the 34-nation region that encompasses Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. His visit to Guyana underscores the continued importance the United States places on the U.S. —Guyana bilateral defense and security partnership in support of regional stability.
DASD Erikson is scheduled to meet with the Government of Guyana, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to discuss the U.S. defense and security partnership with Guyana and regional partners. DASD Erikson’s visit to Guyana is his first trip overseas in 2024 and it signifies the importance of the bilateral defense and security partnership as the GDF continues to grow, in the short-term with robust military to military engagements, and in the long-term as the nation continues to modernize its defense institutions.
The United States continues to work closely with its allies around the world to strengthen alliances and partnerships by improving interoperability, deepening information-sharing and planning and conducting complex joint and combined exercises.
ABOUT Daniel P. Erikson
Daniel P. Erikson is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Defense. In this capacity, he serves in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and is responsible for U.S. defense and security policy for the thirty-four nation region that encompasses Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
Mr. Erikson served as the Western Hemisphere policy lead for the Biden-Harris Transition. He previously served in the White House as special advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden, where he covered foreign affairs and national security issues in the Americas. Prior to the White House, he served in the U.S. Department of State as senior advisor for Congressional and Inter-Governmental Affairs and senior advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs. In 2017, he received the State Department’s Superior Honor Award for his diplomatic contributions to U.S.-Latin American relations, including the advancement of bipartisan policies to support security and development in Central America and Colombia.
Will Caracas also see this visit as an open and military violation of the spirit of the Argyle Agreement and as is it did with the visit of the UK Under Secretary Rutley and cause the Foreign Minister Gil to issue a foolish statement that sees the visit as threatening to Venezuela and also blame the USA for the 1899 Award detailing the boundary with the Essequibo/Guyana on the West? Does Venezuela have the right to interfere in the internal security affairs of Guyana at its will and fancy as well as in Guyana’s foreign relations? Is The Argyle Declaration a bar to Guyana’s exercise of its sovereignty as interpreted by Venezuela at its political convenience? Did Venezuela report the visit of the HMS Trent as a controversy with Guyana to the non-existent Argyle Secretariat/Brazil/ Gonzales/ Caricom/ CELAC having amassed huge military forces on the Caribbean coast? How will Caracas respond this time and will it be silent to avoid future re-imposition of US sanctions? Guyana must carry on with its own legitimate business and ignore rumblings of the Goliaths in Caracas.