Guyana, Colombia sign aerial surveillance pact to boost regional security

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in aerial surveillance, intelligence sharing and regional security.

The agreement, announced this week, is aimed at combating illicit activities, improving situational awareness and enhancing both countries’ ability to safeguard their airspaces.

Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, Chief of Defence Staff of the GDF, said the partnership marks a significant step in Guyana’s national defence strategy. “This collaboration deepens our ability to protect Guyana’s sovereignty and supports broader regional stability,” Khan said.

General Luis Carlos Córdoba Avendaño, Commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force, welcomed the accord and stressed the importance of information sharing, joint training and coordinated responses. Regional collaboration, he said, is vital to addressing shared security challenges.

The signing ceremony was attended by a high-level GDF delegation including Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, Colonel Lorraine Foster, Colonel Lloyd Souvenir, Lieutenant Colonel Natasha Stanford and Commander Roger Nurse. On the Colombian side, General Córdoba Avendaño was accompanied by senior military officials responsible for international cooperation. The ambassadors of both countries were also present.

Under the MoU, Guyana and Colombia will undertake technical exchanges, joint training programmes and the deployment of advanced surveillance technologies. The initiative aligns with the GDF’s modernisation agenda and its commitment to regional security.

The accord represents a milestone in Guyana’s defence diplomacy and lays the groundwork for deeper strategic cooperation with Colombia as both countries confront increasingly complex security challenges.