After independence in 1966, Guyana sought an influential role in international affairs, particularly among developing countries and non-aligned nations. It served twice on the UN Security Council (1975–76 and 1982–83). Former Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Attorney General Mohamed Shahabuddeen served a 9-year term on the International Court of Justice (1987–1996). In June 2023, Guyana was elected as a non-permanent member to the UN Security Council. The country will serve on the council for a period of two years, beginning in January 2024.

Guyana has diplomatic relations with a wide range of nations, and these are managed primarily through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The European Union (EU), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Organization of American States (OAS) have offices in Georgetown.

Regional relations

Guyana strongly supports the concept of regional integration. It played an important role in the founding of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), but its historic status as the organization's poorest member limited its ability to exert leadership in regional activities. Since discovering and developing its offshore oil and gas reserves, Guyana has been reclassified by the World Bank as a high-income country. Guyana has sought to keep foreign policy in close alignment with the consensus of CARICOM members, especially in voting in the UN, OAS, and other international organizations. In 2022, Guyana joined the Regional Security System. The Guyana–Venezuela diplomatic crisis has compelled Guyana to expand defense and security relations with a variety of countries, namely Brazil, the United States, India, and the United Kingdom.

International disputes All of the area west of the Essequibo River has at one point been under dispute, namely by Venezuela and Brazil. In 1899, the government in Caracas reluctantly accepted the Venezuelan-Guyanese border but later revived its claim to the Essequibo in 1962. Suriname has an ongoing dispute with Guyana and this pertains to the area east of the Upper Courantyne.

Currently, two neighbours have longstanding territorial disputes with Guyana. Since the 19th century, Venezuela has claimed the majority or all of Guyana situated west of the Essequibo River – 62% of Guyana's territory. At a meeting in Geneva in 1966, the two countries agreed to receive recommendations from a representative of the UN Secretary General on ways to settle the dispute peacefully. Diplomatic contacts between the two countries and the Secretary General's representative continue. In December 2023, president Nicolás Maduro called for a public referendum which resulted in the government of Venezuela officially claiming ownership of the Essequibo, claim that resulted in the 2023 Guyana–Venezuela crisis.

Neighbouring Suriname also claims the territory east of Guyana's New River, a largely uninhabited area of some in southeast Guyana. Guyana and Suriname also disputed their offshore maritime boundaries. This dispute flared up in June 2000 in response to an effort by a Canadian company to drill for oil under a Guyanese concession. Guyana regards its legal title to all of its territory as sound. However, the dispute with Suriname was arbitrated by the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea and a ruling in favor of Guyana was announced in September 2007.Business: News in the Caribbean – Caribbean360.com

Crime

In 1993, Guyana ratified the 1988 Vienna Convention on illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and cooperates with US law enforcement agencies on counter-narcotics efforts. Guyana is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Guyana has been considered a transshipment point for narcotics from South America, primarily Venezuela, to Europe and the United States and producer of cannabis.

Relations by country List List of countries which Guyana maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate1Unknown23456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115—116117118—119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141—142—143144145146147148149150151152153154

Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes1975Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 28 October 1975. Guyana is covered through the Botswana Mission in New York City. Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations. 1994Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 13 December 1994. Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations. Guyana is accredited to Namibia from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Namibia is accredited to Guyana from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City. Guyana and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic maintained diplomatic relations between 28 September 2012 and November 2020.4 November 1994Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 November 1994. South Africa is represented in Guyana through its High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica.

Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes6 October 1972Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1972. Argentina has an embassy in Georgetown, Guyana. Both countries are full members of Organization of American States and Union of South American Nations.See Barbados–Guyana relations

The relations between Guyana and Barbados had its genesis to a time when both Guyana (then British Guiana) and Barbados were both British colonies. Shortly after Great Britain secured British Guiana from the Dutch, waves of migrants were encouraged to move and settle in Guyana. Barbados was one such location where large numbers of migrants came from. Through time Barbados and Guyana have both supported each other. With the move towards independence in the region Guyana was seen as the breadbasket of the wider Caribbean which led to yet more waves of Barbadians seeking to move to Guyana for better opportunities.

Relations have been rocky, during the 1990s, immigration became contentious for Guyanese persons to Barbados. Such terms as the "Guyanese bench" in the immigration area of the Barbados Sir Grantley Adams International Airport have tested both states at times. The two nations continue their cooperation through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and work towards building and maintaining good relations between their nationals. Both nations also attempt to maintain open communications at high levels of both Governments.

More recently the Guyanese Government has extended an offer to Barbadians. The Guyanese government has offered to put in place an economically favourable regime towards any Barbadians that wish to relocate to Guyana and contribute towards that nation's goals in agricultural investment. The announcement was made in the final days of the Owen Arthur administration by MP member Mia Mottley.

In the early 1990s the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning pitched an initiative for Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to enter into some form of political union or political association. This initiative was short lived and didn't proceed following the Democratic Labour Party's defeat during the 1994 elections.1981See Belize–Guyana relations

Belize has a high commission in Georgetown.High Commission of Belize in Georgetown Guyana is accredited to Belize from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Georgetown and maintains an honorary consulate in Belize City.Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs: BelizeBelize Ministry of Foreign Affairs: GuyanaSee Brazil–Guyana relations

Brazil–Guyana relations have traditionally been close. Brazil has provided military assistance to Guyana in the form of war fare training and logistics. Bilateral relations between the countries have recently increased, as a result of Brazil's new South-South foreign policy aimed to strengthen South American integration.

During a state visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Georgetown on 2 March 2007, the governments of Guyana and Brazil signed several cooperation agreements and announced plans to boost trade between the two countries.Canada started relations with Guyana in 1964 with the construction of the Commission of Canada in Georgetown. In 1966 it became a Canadian High Commission. There is a Guyanese High Commission in Ottawa and a Guyanese Consulate in Toronto.

Canada and Guyana have strong ties through the Commonwealth of Nations. There is an estimated 200,000 Guyanese living in Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Guyanese police work closely to help with drug, and human smuggling.

Guyana's largest import from Canada is machinery (CAD $13 mil), and export is precious metals (CAD$482 mil). Food exports generally cater to Canada's Guyanese diaspora population.3 November 1978Dominica and Guyana have established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1978. Guyana has a High Commission in Roseau.Guyana's Diplomatic & Consular Representatives1 March 1973See Guyana–Mexico relations

Guyana is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico has an embassy in Georgetown.Embassy of Mexico in Georgetown (in English and Spanish)25 November 1975See Guyana–Suriname relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 November 1975. Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States, and of the Caribbean Community. There is an ongoing territorial dispute between Guyana and Suriname regarding the Tigri Area.26 May 1966See Guyana-Trinidad and Tobago relations

Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have had historically close ties due to their shared culture, history, dominion under the British Empire, demographics and religion. Both Countries have a substantial population of Hindus from indentured servitude from India along with a large African population from Africa. Both countries are a part of the Commonwealth of Nations and CARICOM. Trinidad was the largest forgiver of debt in the 1990s Paris Club Agreement to Guyana, forgiving Hundred of Millions of Debt. A substantial number of Guyanese people live in Trinidad and Tobago. In recent years, relations between the two countries warmed with Guyana establishing its First Diplomatic Mission in Port of Spain in 2017. In 2018, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation.See Guyana–United States relations

U.S. policy toward The Co-operative Republic of Guyana seeks to develop robust, sustainable democratic institutions, laws, and political practices; support economic growth and development; and promote stability and security. During the last years of his administration, President Hoyte sought to improve relations with the United States as part of a decision to move his country toward genuine political nonalignment. Relations also were improved by Hoyte's efforts to respect human rights, invite international observers for the 1992 elections, and reform electoral laws. The United States also welcomed the Hoyte government's economic reform and efforts, which stimulated investment and growth. The 1992 democratic elections and Guyana's reaffirmation of sound economic policies and respect for human rights have placed U.S.-Guyanese relations on an excellent footing. Under successive PPP governments, the United States and Guyana continued to improve relations. President Cheddi Jagan was committed to democracy, adopted more free market policies, and pursued sustainable development for Guyana's environment. Guyana has an embassy in Washington, DC and a consulate-general in New York City.