Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, recently met with a visiting delegation from the United States of America at Base Camp Ayanganna.
The delegation included Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for the Western Hemisphere, Mr. Joseph Humire; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Barbara Feinstein; U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Her Excellency Nicole D. Theriot; Country Director in the War Department, Ms. Lisa Jacobson de Abarca; Senior Defence Official, U.S. Embassy Security Cooperation Office, Commander Christopher Bernotovicius; and Operations Officer, U.S. Embassy Security Cooperation Office, Lieutenant Colonel David Garcia.
During the engagement, Brigadier Khan expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the United States, noting that such cooperation has contributed significantly to strengthening Guyana’s defence posture. He also commended the recent U.S. military flyover during the inauguration ceremony of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, describing it as a symbolic gesture of partnership and shared commitment to regional stability.
Following the engagement at Base Camp Ayanganna, the delegation also visited the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard Headquarters, where they were received by the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard. The team was briefed on the benefits of the longstanding maritime security partnership with the United States, including vessel acquisitions, infrastructure projects, and access to maritime domain awareness platforms. They were also given a tour of the Maritime Operations Centre and the GDFS Shahoud, further highlighting the strong cooperation between the two countries in safeguarding Guyana’s maritime space.
The discussions highlighted the importance of defence cooperation, partnership, and continued collaboration between Guyana and the United States in advancing shared security and strategic objectives.
The visit reinforced the longstanding ties between the two nations and reflected their mutual interest in deepening defence and security cooperation in the years ahead.
