Georgetown: The Guyana Defence Force and the Department of Defense of the United States of America Tuesday signed an agreement which essentially streamlines how the two governments will efficiently exchange goods or services to support effective and mutually beneficial defence cooperation.
Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Commander of the United States Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller inked the Acquisition and Cross- Servicing agreement today at State House. Admiral Faller and team are currently on a two day visit to Guyana during which discussions were held with government and GDF officials.
The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement paves the way for furthering the interoperability, readiness, and effectiveness of the two military forces through increased logistic cooperation, and sets out the basic terms, conditions, and procedures to facilitate the reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and services.
Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess in remarks, noted that the small size of the GDF constrains its capacity to respond effectively and timely to severe natural disasters and impairs its efforts to arrest transnational threats such the illicit trade in narcotics and small arms and human trafficking. It is in this regard, he said, that the Force looks increasingly to defence cooperation agreements which serve as a means of improving responsiveness.
Brigadier Bess pointed out too that defence cooperation also contributes to enhancing the professionalism and training of GDF Officers. He singled out some of the traditional areas of cooperation including the annual Exercise Tradewinds which involves the United States, Canada and other regional states. Additionally, he noted that Officers of the GDF and civilians have also benefited from support for training under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme. He also referenced the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBSI) to which Guyana is a signatory , saying that this too has allowed for the building of partnerships in the security sector. “Existing mechanisms for encouraging dialogue among defence officials and the recently signed Shiprider Agreement continue to enhance security cooperation between our respective defence forces,” he added.
Brigadier Bess stated that the signing of the agreement today builds on this tradition of security cooperation between the two militaries. He added, “The agreement’ allows for greater predictability in our defence partnership. It establishes a formal basis for ensuring the exchange of services between the militaries of Guyana and the United States. “The agreement is predicated on respect for each other’s sovereignty and in accordance with the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. I am confident that this agreement will advance the partnership between the militaries of the United States and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”
Meanwhile, Commander of the United States Southern Command Admiral Craig Faller, stated that with the signing of the agreement , “ we are entering a new era of defense partnership that will strengthen regional stability…for half a century, our countries have built a bond of friendship, the kind that you find among neighbors with shared values; and that is what we are – neighbors who share a history, culture, and a commitment to democracy…We are strongest together, and I am certain that together there is no challenge or threat to our shared security that we cannot face.”
The USSOUTHCOM Commander noted that his visit reinforces the US commitment to shared regional security and the prosperity of the Guyanese people.
He also highlighted the areas of cooperation which the two countries enjoy. Admiral Faller sees the signing of the agreement as a pivotal step forward in the enduring partnership between the United States and Guyana.
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