President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has declared that the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by United States forces has not diminished the territorial threat posed to Guyana’s mineral-rich Essequibo Region. Addressing the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) annual officers conference at Base Camp Ayanganna, Commander-in-Chief Ali emphasized that despite significant political changes in Venezuela, Guyana must remain prepared, vigilant, and ready to defend its sovereignty.
The American military operation that captured Maduro and extradited him to face trial in the U.S. over drug and weapons charges has led to unexpected diplomatic developments. Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, previously known for aggressive rhetoric against Guyana and strong anti-American sentiment, has surprisingly established warm relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. This shift has resulted in freed political prisoners, amended laws to attract American oil investments, and the release of $500 million from seized Venezuelan oil assets.
President Ali cautioned against interpreting Venezuela’s internal changes as reduced external threats. ‘The present situation in Venezuela does not remove or diminish the threat to Guyana’s territory,’ he stated, highlighting that preparedness should not be mistaken for provocation. The Guyanese leader reinforced that maintaining military readiness across land, sea, and air domains is essential national policy, not aggression.
The address referenced recent tensions, including a March 2025 incident when the Venezuelan Navy entered Guyana’s Stabroek Block, informing exploration vessels they were in ‘undemarcated Venezuelan waters’ before withdrawing after several hours. Ali emphasized that Guyana’s expansive military cooperation agreements with the United States, Britain, and France would not come at the expense of political independence or territorial sovereignty.
‘We cannot outsource sovereignty,’ President Ali asserted. ‘We cannot subcontract our defense and we cannot assume that any fairy godmother or godfather will always appear at a decisive moment.’ The president committed to maintaining friendly relations with all nations while insisting that cooperation must be grounded in respect for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods recently indicated that reduced naval patrols could create a ‘more friendly environment’ for potential hydrocarbon exploration in the northwestern Stabroek Block nearer to Venezuela, highlighting the continuing economic implications of the territorial dispute.