US Expresses Concern Over China’s Growing Presence in Guyana, the Caribbean

In a recent news briefing, outgoing United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, expressed concerns over China’s expanding financial presence in the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Guyana.

Ambassador Lynch disclosed that the United States has significantly increased its bilateral trade in recent years, a clear indication of its enduring interest in the Caribbean.

She went on to emphasise that while China’s financial influence is growing in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, the US Embassy is actively working to ensure that American companies provide value for money in their investments and partnerships in the region.

Apart from the United States, Ambassador Lynch noted that other countries are also exploring investment opportunities in Guyana, spanning various sectors such as agriculture, information technology, tourism, and manufacturing.

However, she advised Guyanese companies to seize the advantages presented by working with American firms, citing inherent benefits in such collaborations.

During a recent visit to China by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, he committed to concluding the Joint Action Plan on Promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative with Beijing. This development underscores the evolving landscape of international partnerships and investments in Guyana.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as the One Belt One Road (OBOR) in China, is a global infrastructure development strategy initiated by the Chinese government in 2013.

It involves investments in over 150 countries and international organizations and is a key element of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s foreign policy.

The BRI is part of Xi’s “Major Country Diplomacy” strategy, which calls for China to assume a greater leadership role for global affairs in accordance with its rising power and status.

It has been likened to the American Marshall Plan. As of August 2023, 155 countries have joined the BRI, encompassing nearly 75% of the world’s population and over half of the world’s GDP.

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