Georgetown, September 1 (RHC)-- A U.S. military contingent has been deployed to the South American nation of Guyana in an effort to beef up its regional influence as it seeks to press for a military intervention in neighboring Venezuela and undermine alleged Chinese and Russian presence in the region.

The four-month long program -- led by the U.S. Air Force and dubbed New Horizons humanitarian outreach -- is intended to serve as “a stepping-stone toward a prolonged relationship” with the Guyana military forces, U.S.-based Military.com news outlet reported Saturday, adding that Air Force officials hope American ties with the Guyanese military will remain strong amid the growing influence of Russia and China in the southern hemisphere as well as the persisting crisis in Venezuela.

"Guyana is going to become a larger player in this region, both economically and politically in the future, so it's important that we are closely tied with them," said 12th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Andrew Croft in an interview.

"What we leave is an enduring, physical presence in addition to the partnerships that we build," Croft boasted, citing medical facilities and schools built in 1997 that are still being used today.

Nearly 600 U.S. military service members participated in the project to construct community centers and a women's shelter in Guyana, on South America's northern coast.

Guyana, third-smallest country on the continent, sits just east of Venezuela, which has endured political turmoil and economic hardship since 2010.

"Guyana sits is in a strategic location on the north edge of South America and on the Caribbean," the US commander further emphasized. "That's what makes it important. Also, as political change happens in the nation and they become more aligned with us, it's important for us to make those personal relationships not only through the embassy, but also through the military and the Guyana defense force, which is currently about 3,000 strong with the intent to nearly double it in the upcoming years."

The naked aggression of the U.S. against Venezuela is “a stark reminder of the criminal nature of U.S. imperialism,” Dennis Etler says.  

Next year, the US-led program will move to nearby Honduras.  American officials have already started planning it, according to the report.