Guyana backs efforts to ‘cripple transnational crime, illicit drug trade’ – President Ali

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday affirmed Guyana’s support for regional and international efforts to dismantle transnational crime networks and safeguard peace.

President Ali, speaking during the graduation of a new batch of Guyana Defence Force recruits, said Guyana will “support every action and embrace every partnership to cripple transnational crime, the illicit drug trade and any form of destabilisation that threatens Guyana and the region.”

Since September, the United States has intensified operations targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that U.S. forces struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people. He described the vessel as belonging to “narcoterrorists” and claimed it was engaged in drug trafficking. This marks the fifth strike since September, bringing the reported death toll to 27. However, the U.S. has not provided evidence or details about the vessels or those on board.

President Ali also reaffirmed that Guyana holds no animosity toward the Venezuelan people, noting that many Venezuelans have been welcomed to Guyana’s shores in search of a better life.
He reiterated that the border controversy “is not born out of hatred” but firmly stated that Guyana “will not compromise our sovereignty. We condemn the attacks against our citizens and military using the Cuyuni, and we will not tolerate it.”

He further pledged to defend Guyana’s territorial space in partnership with allies who stand for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. President Ali stressed that Guyana’s commitment to sovereignty and peace extends beyond its borders and advocated for a Caribbean and Latin America free from threats.