Guyana is considering options to strengthen defense cooperation with allies including the United States amid a territorial dispute with Venezuela. This was stated by Vice President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo in an interview with the Financial Times. In the context of ongoing tensions between the two countries, Guyana is looking for ways to strengthen its defense capabilities.

Jagdeo did not specify specific plans or types of proposed cooperation, but emphasized the difference in military capabilities between Guyana and Venezuela. He noted that Guyana's armed forces number just over 4 thousand people, while Venezuela has more than 351 thousand. At the same time, Jagdeo expressed confidence in Guyana’s ability to contain any aggressive intentions of Venezuela.

At the same time, the Vice President of Guyana expressed fears that the recent easing of US sanctions against Venezuela could increase threats from the leader of the Venezuelan state, Nicolas Maduro. In his opinion, the lifting of sanctions could provide Caracas with additional resources to carry out its aggressive intentions against Guyana.

The situation escalated after Maduro called for a law to protect the Guyana-Essequibo territory and announced his intention to activate social programs in the region. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali responded by saying that Venezuela's actions to integrate the disputed Essequibo region pose a threat to Guyana's national security and expressed his intention to appeal to the UN Security Council and international partners.