Vice President Bharratt Jagdeo has announced that high-level officials from the US Department of Defence will be arriving in Guyana next week, as Guyana moves to enhance its Defence co-operation with bilateral partners in wake of increased threats from Venezuela.

While repeatedly emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace within the Region, the Vice President said the Guyana will be working with its allies, including the US, to plan for any and all eventualities.

“We are going to be working with on greater defence cooperation with a number of countries. We will have from the US Department of Defence, next week, two visits to Guyana by two teams, and then several other visits in the month of December, and high-level presence representation from the Department of Defence here. We are not going to succumb to Venezuela’s bullyism,” the Vice President said.

Mr. Jagdeo said while the planned Venezuelan Referendum is being seen by some as a political tactic by the Venezuelan Government to round-up support ahead of the 2024 Elections, Guyana must put systems in place to protect its borders.

“We can’t just think that this is internal politics without taking all possible measures to protect our country, including working with others, and all the options available to us to defend our country will be pursued. Every option,” the Vice President emphasized.

He said Guyana has never been interested in having foreign military bases here, but the country must protect its national interest.

Jagdeo said contrary to Venezuelan propaganda, Guyana is not the aggressor.

He said Guyana has always been in favor of a peaceful solution to the border controversy.

“I see calls about peace in the region. We have never threatened the peace. Venezuela has been an aggressive country, threatening peace…Venezuela has threatened our border. They have threatened to annex our territory. They have threatened to leave the peaceful means of settling this border issue, which is the ICJ. Which is, in most civilised countries, and in a civilize world, that’s what people do. They have chosen unilaterally to repudiate the 1899 Award, and then try to paint themselves as victims,” the Vice President explained.

Warning Venezuela against any further acts of aggression, the Vice President reminded that Guyana has secured the support of CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth and a number of bilateral partners including the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

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