TSAMTO, February 20th. The Guyanese authorities have allocated $201 million. to modernize the military equipment in service with the Armed Forces of the country in connection with the growing tension in relations with Venezuela due to the affiliation of the Essequibo region.
According to The St Kitts Nevis Observer resource, with reference to President Irfaan Ali, it is planned to purchase helicopters, patrol ships and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle for the country's armed Forces. The Head of State did not disclose the details of the purchases, including the type of weapons and suppliers. He only clarified that the government intends to focus on developing the combat capabilities of the Guyanese Armed Forces and strengthening cooperation with allied countries.
At the annual officers' conference held on February 8 at the Camp Ayanganna military base, Irfaan Ali said that the plan for restructuring the Guyanese Armed Forces would include the restoration of various assets, as well as the reform of the organizational structure. The Head of State also said that the budget of the military department in 2024 will reach 42.2 billion. Guyanese dollars ($188.3 million).
Currently, most of the equipment of the Guyanese Armed Forces is a Cold War weapon, and a number of samples were used during the Second World War. Irfaan Ali assured that the country is not involved in an armed struggle with Venezuela, which he called a "formidable western neighbor." The President also acknowledged that the modernization of the country's armed forces does not involve excessive expenditure of financial resources.
U.S. Presidential Adviser John Feiner, who visited Guyana earlier this month, said that the United States is cooperating with Guyana to assist the South American state in border protection. In addition to the United States, France and the United Kingdom also announced their intention to cooperate with Guyana in the field of defense against the background of the territorial dispute with Venezuela.
According to the Venezuelan authorities, the Essequibo region with an area of 160 thousand square kilometers is part of its territory, although since the late 1800s it has belonged to Guyana.
Disputes over Essequibo flared up in 2015 after the American oil company ExxonMobil discovered large oil deposits in the area. Venezuela claims that Essequibo has been part of its territory since it was a colony of Spain, and refers to the Geneva Agreement signed in 1966 before Guyana gained independence from Britain on the need to resolve the territorial dispute peacefully. It is reported that this agreement annulled the 1899 decision that established the boundaries that Georgetown is asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ratify.
Tensions between Guyana and Venezuela have decreased since December talks mediated by the leaders of Brazil and the Caribbean, but judging by satellite photos from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Venezuela has recently transferred military equipment, including light tanks and armored personnel carriers, to the border area.
The second round of talks with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Venezuela and Guyana was held in Brazil at the end of January in order to prepare for the upcoming summit with the participation of the presidents of the two countries.
