During his visit to Guyana, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the South American country to cooperate with U.S. businesses and cautioned them to be cautious in developing relations with China, especially with regard to investment from China. Pompeo’s historic visit to Guyana coincides with the recent emergence of new leadership in the neighboring country of Venezuela and the discovery of large amounts of oil there.
Secretary of State Pompeo, who is visiting Guyana, met Friday (September 18) with newly elected Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and members of his cabinet. The day before, Pompeo visited Suriname.
Pompeo’s visit to the small South American countries of Suriname and Guyana was historic. He was the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit both countries. Both countries have recently held elections and both have made oil discoveries in recent years. Pompeo discussed with them the economic development of the two countries following their oil discoveries.
With China’s growing influence throughout South America, the United States hopes to use the change in leadership and economic conditions in Suriname and Guyana to strengthen U.S. relations with the two South American countries and curb China’s influence. He is also using the visit to increase pressure on the Maduro regime in neighboring Venezuela.
Pompeo said in an interview Friday with the state-run radio and television station “National Communications Network” in Guyana’s capital Georgetown that he was here to congratulate the people of Guyana on their successful democratic elections and peaceful transition of power, and to explore opportunities for U.S. investment there to help the people of Guyana have a better life. He specifically contrasted the way the United States does business with China. In particular, he contrasted the way the United States does business with China.
He said, “We want to make sure that foreign direct investment is coming in in a fair and transparent way. I think every country understands that when the United States comes along, we only ask for fair competition, rule of law, enforceable contracts, and a set of property rights. We don’t exert political pressure that is associated with commercial enterprise.”
China operates very differently, Pompeo said bluntly.
He said, “When the Chinese Communist Party came in, its military and business were deeply intertwined. They put political pressure on these countries to accept China’s bids. That’s not the way corporate America does things. We come in and we hire local people. We’re good environmental stewards. We follow the rule of law. We respect the sovereignty of the country.”
The secretary of state said he believes these are things that other countries want and that Guyana’s new leaders want.
In response to Pompeo’s statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, “In handling relations with other countries, China will not ask other countries to cooperate with which countries, nor will it threaten other countries with which countries it cannot cooperate. Our cooperation with relevant countries is equal, mutually beneficial and win-win.”
In July 2018, the South American country joined Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative after a memorandum of understanding was signed by Chinese and Guyanese officials and witnessed by President David Granger.
Neighboring and territorially disputed with Venezuela, Guyana is the second poorest country in South America, but huge oil reserves may make it the richest country on the continent.
In March of this year, elections were held in oil-discovering Guyana, and the vote count was contentious. Granger refused to relinquish the presidency after a preliminary recount by the Guyana Elections Commission showed opposition leader Leader Ali in the lead. Secretary of State Pompeo had called on Granger in July to step aside and impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermine Guyana’s democracy. Ali was sworn in as president on August 2.
Pompeo began a trip to Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia in South America on Sept. 17.
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