President: Guyana deploys more assets at border with Venezuela, working on intelligence with allies

Guyana has deployed additional security assets along its western border and is working with international allies following recent armed attacks on Guyana Defence Force patrols along the Cuyuni River, President Irfaan Ali said on Thursday.

The move comes after Guyana earlier this month accused armed men operating from the Venezuelan side of the border of attacking GDF patrols in separate incidents along the Cuyuni River, further escalating tensions amid the longstanding border controversy over the Essequibo region.

“As you know, we have addressed this with our allies. We have addressed this diplomatically with Venezuela,” Ali told reporters at a press conference in Georgetown.

Ali said authorities were also examining reports of other shootings to determine whether the incidents were linked.

Guyana is using intelligence gathered with support from international partners as part of that assessment, he said.

“You know we had a case of the ICJ anyhow, so we are very watchful.”

Ali declined to provide operational details on the additional deployments but said Guyana remained confident in its ability to secure its territory.

“But we are confident about protecting our sovereignty and our borders.”

The president also said the government was advancing its border patrol strategy, including integrating community-based policing efforts into broader border monitoring and intelligence operations.

He said the initiative, first launched in Region Nine, was still in the assessment phase as authorities determine how best to tailor deployments to different border challenges.