Let us be clear – President Irfaan Ali’s presence at the “Shield of the Americas” meeting was in the interest of Guyana. President Ali accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend the “Shield of the Americas” Summit in Doral, Florida, on March 7, 2026. The “Shield of the Americas” Summit between President Donald Trump and a group of Caribbean and Latin American leaders focused on security, drug cartels, and transnational crime. The naysayers are now attacking President Ali and his Government for grovelling in front of Donald Trump, for kowtowing to the US President. The naysayers scream out loud that President Ali and the PPP Government have become sycophants of America.
But the truth is that President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the PPP Government are acting in the interest of Guyana and the Guyanese people. Guyana’s participation in the summit recognises the twin threats Guyana faces – the regional escalation of drug-related crimes driven by a multitude of regional cartels and the threat from Venezuela. These are existential threats that Guyana by itself cannot effectively confront. The interest of Guyana and the interest of the USA are presently aligned. It would be reckless for President Ali to ignore an opportunity to protect Guyana from regional drug cartels and the constant military threat from Venezuela.
Over the last few years, Latin America’s criminal landscape has become even more complex. The cartels have diversified beyond drug trafficking into extortion, human trafficking, smuggling and illegal mining. The cartels have even begun to develop interconnected networks, collaborating globally. Not only have they caused an escalation of violence, but they have corrupted institutions and have become a real danger to democracy in the region. None of the countries in CARICOM and Latin America have been able to counter the growing threat from the cartels by themselves.
The ”Shield of the Americas” is a new initiative to bring like-minded countries to counter the growing influence and power of the cartels and criminal organisations in the region. It is the region’s best chance to effectively counter transnational crime. Guyana’s alignment with America on this issue is not ideological.
Guyana remains firmly committed to CARICOM. But in the face of threat from Venezuela in the last few years, CARICOM’s support for Guyana was complicated by several of its members having a “cosy” arrangement with Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela. While CARICOM countries expressed support for Guyana, they were often equivocal because of economic loyalty to Venezuela. Even close allies like Ralph Gonsalves remained close with Maduro. The situation called for an unconditional condemnation of Maduro and Venezuela, not refusal of some middle ground.
The naysayers insist that Venezuela is no longer a threat since Nicolas Maduro is now locked up in an American jail awaiting trial for crimes the American justice system has charged him with. But Maduro’s successor continues to espouse a hardline when it comes to Guyana. President Ali has not joined the “Shield of the Americas” for America to force Venezuela to discontinue its bogus claim to two-thirds of Guyana. However, maximum pressure must be exerted on Venezuela to follow the rule of law. Venezuela must be pressured to accept the ruling of the ICJ. Guyana has acted with maturity in regard to its application to the ICJ, making it clear that Guyana will accept the ruling of the court. Venezuela has done the opposite, often questioning the legal jurisdiction of the court.
While CARICOM supported Guyana’s move to the ICJ, CARICOM was not exactly the power of strength when it comes to insisting that Venezuela must accept the ruling of the court. They often spoke with no clarity on the matter. They expected Guyana to understand their weak stance because their economies were tied to access to oil on special arrangements. Thus, given that there is an opportunity where CARICOM failed, maybe America and President Donald Trump might be able to secure a commitment from Venezuela and its leaders to agree to accept the ruling from the court.
There is the vexed issue of Cuba. No CARICOM Member has ever defended Cuba more strongly than Guyana. Guyana has stood firmly with Cuba at the UN as UN members have year after year voted against the American embargo. Guyana has benefited much from Cuba. Guyana must always be grateful to Cuba. But the truth is that the situation in Cuba has been deteriorating. The US Government’s demand that CARICOM members obey the international labour laws has forced all CARICOM countries to examine their reliance on Cuban medical personnel. Guyana is not the only country forced to re-examine the arrangements.
But unlike several of the CARICOM countries that abruptly discontinued and sent back the Cuban medical personnel after the US threatened to withhold visas for CARICOM citizens, Guyana tried to remove the violations of international labour laws. The Guyanese Government provided contracts to Cuban medical personnel similar to the contracts offered to Guyanese citizens. The Cuban Government resisted this change of arrangements and decided to end the more than 50-year medical programme with Guyana.
President Ali has made clear that Guyana is not in favour of military action being used by any nation to force Cuba into regime change. President Ali made it clear that changes in Cuba to bring that nation into the fold of democracy must be one that is negotiated and that must be done over time. The Cuban people must be given an opportunity to decide their own future. In this regard, Guyana stands with the people of Cuba to control their own destiny.
President Ali joining this initiative is securing the interest of our country. This is not a right-wing takeover in Guyana. This is Guyana aligning with an initiative that confronts problems that Guyana by itself cannot effectively deal with. While aligning with the US to protect Guyana’s interests, Guyana continues to address the economic and social well-being of our people.