Guyana

Guyana's interior is one of the least explored landscapes in South America — vast tracts of pristine tropical rainforest, tepui (table-top mountain) formations, and river systems that flow toward the Atlantic. Kaieteur Falls, on the Potaro River, is one of the world's most powerful waterfalls, with a single drop of 226 metres. The country's largely untouched ecosystems have positioned it as an emerging ecotourism destination.

The discovery of massive offshore oil reserves in 2015 transformed Guyana's economic trajectory. Production began in 2019 and has expanded rapidly, making Guyana one of the world's fastest-growing economies per capita. The challenge of managing this sudden oil wealth — avoiding the resource curse that has undermined development in many oil-producing nations — is the defining policy question of Guyana's current era. The country borders Venezuela, which claims approximately two-thirds of Guyanese territory (the Essequibo region) — a dispute with deep historical roots and significant implications given the oil discoveries.