US puts $2 million into Guyana's air surveillance as it watches Venezuela

The United States has announced a $2 million funding package to boost Guyana's air surveillance and drone capabilities, deepening security cooperation as the long-running dispute with Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region continues to simmer. The announcement underscores Washington's growing engagement in the tense border standoff between the two South American neighbors.

US officials said the funding will support Guyana's armed forces in monitoring cross-border activity, with the money directed toward drones and radar systems intended to track movement along the disputed frontier. The package is part of a broader push by Washington to strengthen ties with Georgetown as regional tensions persist.

Venezuela maintains its historical claim over Essequibo and has characterized growing US involvement in the area as provocative. Analysts note the investment will also bolster Guyana's ability to protect its offshore oil fields, which have become increasingly central to the territorial dispute as exploration expands and international oil majors deepen their stakes in the disputed waters.