The United States Southern Command has announced that it will conduct flight operations in that country’s territory on the continent in collaboration with the Guyana Defense Force (GDF).

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in that country, the exercise is “based on routine missions and operations to strengthen the security partnership between the United States and Guyana and enhance regional cooperation.”

It was also reiterated that cooperation will continue in the areas of disaster preparedness, air and maritime security and the fight against transnational criminal organizations.

Where is Guyana, the country that could lose more than 70% of its territory to Venezuela?

The operation took place after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali of his government’s “unconditional support” for the South American country’s sovereignty, amid the territorial dispute with Venezuela via the Essequibo. region.

Venezuela, in turn, criticized on Wednesday that Guyana has “given the green light to the presence” of the Southern Command in Essequibo, after Ali warned that his country is in contact with this US military command and that the GDF is “in the air”. alert.”

Nicolás Maduro’s executive confirmed that Georgetown’s “reckless attitude” opens up for the “imperial power” the “possibility of installing military bases,” which threatens “the zone of peace demarcated in this region.”

Last Wednesday, a military helicopter with seven people on board got lost about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Venezuela.

The search and rescue duties of Bell 412, which was flying a mission to visit troops on the western border, had to be suspended that day due to bad weather and resumed this Friday.

Captain Gerald Gouveia, National Security Advisor to President Irfaan Ali, confirmed on his Facebook page that every effort has been made to locate the device and its crew.

“We know exactly where they are,” Gouveia said, without giving further details, expressing hope that atmospheric conditions on this day will allow greater visibility.

According to authorities, the helicopter took off from the Ayanganna base, in western Guyana, at 9:23 local time (14:23 GMT) yesterday with three crew members and four passengers.

However, at 11:20 local time (15:20 GMT), the ship sent a distress alert in the Arau area, western Guyana.

Chief of Defense Staff Omar Khan explained at a press conference at the Ayanganna base last night that the helicopter landed at Olive Creek for refueling but communications were lost after takeoff.

The officer indicated that the emergency alert would indicate that the helicopter has crashed, suffered a heavy fall or may have been manually modified by a crew member.

Afterwards, the armed forces activated a search and rescue operation, which included a plane loaded with special forces officers and another helicopter.

The missing helicopter was piloted by Lt. Col. Michael Charles, commanded by Col. Michael Shahoud, commander of the First Infantry Battalion, on a mission to visit troops on the border.

The other people on board were retired Brigadier General Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonels Sean Welcome and Michael Crawford, Sergeant Jason Khan and Corporal Dwayne Johnson. (JO)