🔗 Share this article

Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has announced it will allow the United States military to access its airports in the near future. This move comes as heightening regional tensions between the US and nearby Venezuela.

New Defense System Raises Questions

The news comes after the deployment of a military-grade radar system at an airport in Tobago. National officials have insisted the radar's sole use is for fighting illegal operations, emphatically denying a base for military strikes against any nation.

Government opponents argue, however, that the partnership risks pulling Trinidad and Tobago into former President Donald Trump's ongoing pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Nature of Access and Government Explanation

As per a foreign affairs statement, US use at the airports would be focused on logistics, assisting with stocking provisions and routine personnel rotations. The statement provided no further details beyond this.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has in the past supported US military strikes targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, strikes that have reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities, including a number of Trinidadian citizens.

Earlier Statements and Subsequent Revelations

At first, Persad-Bissessar claimed a US C-17 aircraft arriving in Tobago was carrying marines to assist with a local road construction project. Yet, when pictures emerged of the defense system, she acknowledged that at least 100 marines were stationed in the country, accompanied by the high-performance radar.

The radar, believed to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is described as aerial monitoring, defense, and counter-fire operations.

Close Neighbors

Trinidad and Tobago lies extremely close from Venezuela at their narrowest separation. The country has main airports: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago.

The airport access agreement comes after a previous incident in October, when a US naval vessel was stationed in Trinidad's capital, as part of the Trump administration's increased military posture on Venezuela.

In related developments, US lawmakers have expressed doubts about the legality of the aforementioned maritime strikes and have called for a review process.