Guyana reaffirms Caribbean as a ‘zone of peace’ amid US military actions

Guyana’s ambassador to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has reaffirmed the Caribbean’s commitment to remaining a zone of peace, even as she expressed support for U.S. efforts to combat narco-trafficking in the region.

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Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, where members debated U.S. military operations in the Caribbean Sea, Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana remains focused on strengthening its response to emerging drug threats through a new early warning system. The initiative, she explained, is designed to detect and respond swiftly to new narcotic substances while reinforcing the country’s public health and national security frameworks.

She emphasized that Guyana’s cooperation with international and regional partners must remain rooted in the rule of law and international legal frameworks, ensuring that the global fight against drug trafficking is both unified and lawful.

“We treasure the region’s designation as a zone of peace,” she said. “Our commitment to non-intervention, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to the peaceful settlement of disputes is firm and unwavering.”

At the same time, the ambassador acknowledged that the Caribbean is not immune to the destabilizing effects of transnational drug trafficking networks, which continue to threaten regional stability. “No country in Latin America, the Caribbean, or North America is untouched by the devastating impacts of the illicit trafficking of drugs, arms, and ammunition,” she warned.

Rodrigues-Birkett urged countries to work collectively to preserve regional peace and stability, saying, “We can and must collectively respond in a manner that safeguards the stability of the region and the security of our people.”

Her remarks came amid escalating tensions following a recent U.S. military build-up in the Caribbean Sea, ordered by then-President Donald Trump, which included an amphibious squadron, reconnaissance aircraft, destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser. Washington has said the deployment targets Venezuelan-backed drug traffickers, a claim that Venezuela, backed by China and Russia, has strongly rejected.

During the meeting, Venezuelan representative Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta accused the U.S. of “extra-judicial killings,” alleging that American forces bombed small civilian vessels under the pretext of drug interdiction. China’s delegate Fu Cong also criticized Washington’s operations, saying they “severely infringe on other countries’ sovereignty” and “threaten regional peace and security.”

The U.S., represented by John Kelly, defended its actions, insisting they were part of a legitimate campaign to stop narcotics from entering American borders. “We will not be flooded by cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs being brought into our borders from Venezuela and elsewhere,” he said, denying that the operations were a cover for regime change.

Briefing the Council, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, confirmed an increase in U.S. military presence in the region and urged all parties to act in accordance with international law. He called for de-escalation and constructive dialogue, stressing that “all efforts to counter transnational organized crime must be conducted in accordance with the UN Charter.”

Rodrigues-Birkett concluded that Guyana will remain a partner for peace, committed to collaboration that both safeguards regional security and upholds the principles of the United Nations Charter.