For now, Guyana and the US appear to have different views about the establishment of an American military base in the Caribbean Community headquarter nation with Guyanese officials saying no formal request has been made, while the Defense Department says it is actively looking at the possibility of setting up one in the region.
Addressing fears by neighboring Venezuela about the possibility of neighboring Guyana hosting a base on its soil, Guyanese Attorney General Anil Nandlall said last week that Venezuela has in recent months raised concerns with Guyana about this, even as tensions linger between the two about Venezuela’s claims to a large chunk of Guyana’s territory. Brazil, the economic and military powerhouse in the region is also deadest against any American military base on its doorstep
Guyana’s current position follows remarks made in Guyana by American Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Defense, Daniel P. Erikson last week that an assessment is indeed being made about such a base. “The US views the challenges posed by transnational organizations that are not just military challenges but are also legal and law enforcement challenges and therefore require the whole of government response working with our partners in the region. We continue to assess the situation as it evolves,” Erikson told reporters.
Giving the latest policy update, Attorney General Nandlall said that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro remains “convinced that Guyana could host” an American military base, noting that local authorities have several times in recent weeks dealt with the issue.
“Mr. Maduro raised the issue while we were in St. Vincent for talks on the border controversy in December and the President (Irfaan Ali) dealt with it. The president reiterated that this is not so but we will encourage cooperation with our allies in defense of our territorial integrity and sovereignty. We don’t know about a base,” Nandlall said.
In December as well, Ali had told the BBC that Guyana would do whatever is necessary and effective to defend itself against continued Venezuelan aggression in the wake of Venezuela’s ongoing claims to Guyana’s oil, gas and mineral-rich Essequibo region.
“Whatever it takes with our bilateral partners, with our international partners to protect and secure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Guyana, we will do it. We are looking at all intelligence and at the appropriate time we’ll make appropriate decisions. But whatever it takes. We will do it in whatever shape or form it takes.”
