‘We must continue to stand guard’ – Chief of Defence Staff warns amid rising regional tensions

Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan, has issued a firm warning that Guyana cannot afford complacency in an increasingly unstable regional and global security environment, stressing that the GDF “must continue to stand guard.”

Speaking at the opening of the Annual Officers’ Conference on Thursday, Brigadier Khan said the GDF made significant progress in strengthening capabilities and safeguarding the country’s borders, despite 2025 being a demanding and busy year.

He further cautioned that evolving geopolitical realities are placing unprecedented demands on the force.

“Since our last conference, the world and the region have changed. These changes continue to take form in 2026 and are significant enough to demand more from us in unprecedented ways,” Brigadier Khan said.

According to the Chief of Defence Staff, those shifts have intensified Guyana’s threat landscape, adding new layers to both traditional and emerging security challenges.

“They require our undivided and focused attention,” he noted and explained that persistent conflicts, strategic competition and shifting geopolitical alignments are reshaping the global order.

Ongoing wars and regional tensions, he added, are eroding long-standing norms, straining global stability and placing pressure on traditional institutions and military partnerships.

For Guyana, Khan emphasised that these developments carry direct and immediate consequences.

“These are not abstract issues…they translate into real and present risks for our national security, particularly where border security and the defence of our territorial integrity are concerned,” he said.

Focusing on recent developments in Venezuela, Brigadier Khan said the GDF continues to closely monitor the situation, underscoring that vigilance remains paramount despite any potential opportunities that regional changes may present.

“We continue to assess the recent developments in Venezuela.

“But regardless of any opportunity self-development may bring, we must continue to stand guard,” Brigadier Khan said.

The Annual Officers’ Conference serves as a platform for senior GDF leaders to assess the strategic environment and chart the way forward.