The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Indian Armed Forces are exploring opportunities to strengthen military cooperation, with discussions focusing on training, equipment and technical support across land, air, maritime and cyber operations.
The discussions commenced with a meeting involving Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Chinmoy Naik, and a visiting Military Training and Advisory Team (MTAT) led by Colonel Jaydeep Koley.
The visit builds on ongoing defence relations between Guyana and India, including Brigadier Khan’s visit to India in November 2024, during which he met with senior defence officials and toured military equipment manufacturing facilities to explore opportunities for closer collaboration.
During the opening engagement, Brigadier Khan welcomed the visiting delegation and emphasised the importance of ensuring that any defence cooperation aligns with the GDF’s operational requirements.
Meanwhile, High Commissioner Naik reaffirmed India’s commitment to maintaining strong defence relations with Guyana and encouraged the GDF to utilise the expertise of the visiting team to identify areas where further military support could be provided.
Several senior GDF officers attended the meeting, including Adjutant General Colonel Lloyd Souvenir, MEM; Colonel Administration and Quartering, Commander Roger Nurse, MEM; and Inspector General Colonel Natasha Stanford-Francis, MEM.
The discussions examined the GDF’s existing capabilities, operational needs and potential areas for Indian military assistance. Commander Nurse will serve as the GDF’s coordinator for the defence cooperation process.
As part of the visit, the Indian delegation is expected to tour several GDF bases and units, including the Air Corps, infantry battalions and Coast Guard facilities, to assess existing capabilities and identify areas where India’s support could be beneficial.
The findings from these engagements are expected to guide future cooperation, with the aim of strengthening the GDF’s capabilities and ensuring that any assistance provided addresses Guyana’s defence and security priorities.08:37
