“The defense cooperation flight was conducted with the full consent of Guyana,” the US said

exclusive – Amid tensions surrounding the Essequibo region in Guyana, but claimed by Venezuela, the United States officially spoke about its flights in the region.

On December 7, the United States announced that it would conduct airstrikes with military aircraft over Guyana, however, did not provide many details about how the operations were conducted at a time when Venezuela claims the territory of Essequibo, which corresponds to 75% of Guyana. The area belongs to the Caracas region.

AEROIN spoke with the US Southern Command, which is responsible for all US military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and received the following statement:

As part of the defense partnership between the United States and Guyana, in close coordination with the Guyana Defense Forces (GDF), the United States Southern Command conducted a Defense Cooperation Flight over Guyana on December 7. The flight was conducted with the full consent and approval of the Government of Guyana. The U.S. Southern Command routinely flies similar sorties with defense partners and allies in the region.

The Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a strong relationship with the Guyana Defense Forces and regularly provides defense chiefs and personnel for negotiations, exchanges, training and other mutually planned bilateral activities. In Guyana, all cooperation and capacity building activities with US military personnel are conducted by the GDF at GDF facilities, bases or facilities.

The security partnership between the United States and Guyana focuses on areas of mutual interest, including combating transnational criminal organizations, maritime security, disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance, and human rights. Recent examples of this partnership include Guyana hosting Tradewinds 2023, the region’s longest Caribbean-focused multinational security exercise, the visit of our Commander-in-Chief to Guyana in July and the recent signing of the Human Rights Framework. rights.

United States Southern Command’s enduring partnership with the Guyana Defense Forces is important and highly valued, and we are committed to expanding and strengthening it in ways that are mutually beneficial to our countries and our people.

More details about the presence of US aircraft in the area are to be provided by the Guyanese government, which has yet to provide additional information to the press.