Things are heating up in the southern Caribbean. Recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels from Venezuela have compounded escalating tensions between Venezuela and its much smaller neighbor, Guyana, an emerging energy powerhouse, over the oil-rich Essequibo region. In this episode, former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about U.S. interest in securing Guyana’s energy future, as well as the Amazonian territory’s rising geopolitical profile.

Then, Dr. Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America Energy program at Rice University’s Baker Institute, contextualizes Guyana’s "unbelievable story” of oil-powered economic transformation. Looking just across Guyana’s borders, he draws lessons from Trinidad and Tobago, a regional LNG pioneer now in decline, and maps out what’s ahead for future oil producer Suriname.

Learn more about Guyana’s September 2025 elections: https://ow.ly/IEAc50X4GaU  

Listen to a past episode featuring Dr. Monaldi on Venezuela’s oil sector: https://ow.ly/g0vE50X4Gea  

The music in the podcast is by Vin Gordon and the Original Wailers’ Horn Section for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.  

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Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

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