President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali joined United States President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other leaders of the Shield of the Americas on Tuesday, where member states adopted a Joint Communiqué to strengthen the resilience of the Western Hemisphere.

The communiqué is built on three pillars: economic, security and multilateral coordination.

The meeting, convened by President Trump on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, called for enhanced collective action to combat narco-terrorism and greater efforts to strengthen regional resilience through economic, security and multilateral cooperation.

President Ali was joined in the meeting by Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

The Shield of the Americas comprises the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago.

The coalition was established by President Trump on March 7, 2026, at a summit with leaders from across the Western Hemisphere in Doral, Florida.

President Ali attended that inaugural summit, where leaders signed the Doral Charter, committing to dismantle drug cartels and transnational criminal organisations, discourage illegal immigration, and ensure peace and stability throughout the hemisphere.

President Ali was one of only three Caribbean heads of government invited to the inaugural summit, alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader.

Speaking at a July reception marking 60 years of Guyana-US partnership, President Ali said strengthening security ties remains a priority in the bilateral relationship, noting, “That is why we are a founding member of the Shield of the Americas.”