United States aircraft conducted a low pass flyover of Georgetown on Sunday as President Irfaan Ali was sworn into office for a second consecutive five-year term.
In a brief statement, the US Embassy in Georgetown said the flyover was carried out in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and “reflects the strength of U.S. air power, our partnership with Guyana, and our continued support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Washington also noted that it looks “forward to continuing to work with the government of Guyana to further strengthen the bilateral ties between our two countries. Our commitment to Guyana’s continued growth and development remains strong and unwavering. We commend the Organization of American States (OAS) and other international observers for their impartial monitoring and thorough analysis, which have been instrumental in promoting transparency and accountability in this election.”
The show of US support comes amid heightened regional tensions. In recent days, Washington has increased its military presence near Venezuela, saying the move is part of its crackdown on narco-trafficking. Guyana and Venezuela remain locked in a long-standing border dispute over the Essequibo region, which is administered by Guyana but claimed by Caracas.
Venezuela argues that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the boundary, is void. In March 2024, its government passed a law designating Essequibo as a new state governed from the city of Tumeremo.
Talks between President Ali and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in St. Vincent last December produced the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace, where both sides agreed that any disputes would be settled under international law, including the 1966 Geneva Agreement. The matter is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
During his 33-minute address after taking the oath of office on the lawn of the official Presidential residence, Ali did not mention Venezuela directly but emphasized Guyana’s commitment to sovereignty and regional cooperation.
“We seek peace with all our neighbours and defend our sovereignty with a quiet confidence in the law and a steady strength of unity,” Ali said. “Just as efficiency, integrity, and service must define how government works at home, so must collaboration and cooperation define how we engage abroad.”
He pledged to engage international partners in ways that “safeguard Guyana’s sovereignty and advance our national interests,” while also strengthening security ties and building “the strongest and most modern defence ecosystem in our history, one that shields us from every threat to our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Ali also outlined plans to modernize the police, prison, and fire services, while reaffirming Guyana’s commitment to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
“We’ll deepen the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, advancing full free movement, mutual recognition of skills and qualifications, a truly single investment space, and a seamless payment system across our region,” he said.
Ali said his government would focus on regional food and energy security, agriculture modernization, logistics, and climate adaptation.
“We’ll strengthen collective resilience through disaster risk financing, shared emergency response, and joint action on climate adaptation, because when the sea rises or the winds rage, we stand or fall together,” he added.
The president also pledged to expand trade and investment with both Latin America and the wider Caribbean, stressing that prosperity across the region would “create new opportunities for every Guyanese.”
