The Caribbean Nation Allows US Military Use to Its Airports Amid Rising Tensions with Venezuela
Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has announced it will authorize the United States military to access its airports in coming weeks. This move comes as mounting strained relations between the US and its neighbor Venezuela.
Radar Installation Raises Questions
This statement follows the recent installation of a sophisticated radar system at an airport in Tobago. National authorities state the radar's intended role is for fighting local criminal activity, emphatically denying a base for military strikes against any nation.
Skeptics argue, however, that this cooperation risks pulling Trinidad and Tobago into former President Donald Trump's intensifying efforts against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Scope of Agreement and Government Explanation
In a foreign affairs statement, US use at the airports would be “logistical in nature”, assisting with stocking provisions and regular staff changes. The statement did not elaborate on the matter.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has in the past praised US airstrikes targeting alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, strikes that have reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities, among them a number of Trinidadian citizens.
Initial Claims and Later Disclosures
At first, Persad-Bissessar said a US C-17 aircraft that landed in Tobago was carrying marines to assist with a civilian road construction project. However, after images surfaced of the defense system, she conceded that no fewer than 100 marines were present in the country, along with the high-performance radar.
The radar, identified as a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is described as aerial monitoring, defense, and counter-fire capabilities.
Proximity and Geography
Trinidad and Tobago lies extremely close from Venezuela at their narrowest separation. The country has main international gateways: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago.
This development follows a prior event in October, when a US warship was stationed in Trinidad's capital, as part of the Trump administration's growing military posture on Venezuela.
In related developments, US lawmakers have expressed doubts about the lawfulness of the recent maritime strikes and have called for a formal investigation.
