🔗 Share this article

The revelation that Trinidad and Tobago has approved the installation of a American defense radar facility has raised concerns that the region could be embroiled in the intensifying crisis between Washington and Caracas.

Initial Statements and Following Discoveries

Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had attempted to allay worries about a American military aircraft that had landed in the country, claiming it was carrying marines to aid in a road construction project. She also said she was told that no marines remained in the country.

However, images and videos were later published showing US marines at a Tobago hotel and of a surveillance site on the island.

After being questioned by reporters, Persad-Bissessar conceded that at least 100 marines were in the country, along with a military-grade radar. The system is believed to be a long-range, high-performance model used for air surveillance, defense, and artillery spotting operations.

Official Explanation and Regional Backdrop

The leader stated the radar installation in the country, which is only eleven kilometers away from Venezuela at its nearest point, is part of a anti-narcotics effort. She said she had kept secret details for the sake of national security and to avoid tipping off cartels.

Persad-Bissessar has consistently expressed firm backing for the US military buildup in the Caribbean. Since September, numerous air strikes have been launched on alleged drug smugglers in the region, resulting in significant deaths.

This buildup has been paired with the dispatch of a major US naval strike group to South American waters, marking one of the largest displays of US military power in the area for a generation.

“They have sold our sovereignty for a pittance,” remarked an opposition MP and former security official.

Mounting Political and Analyst Criticism

Despite the official statements, the prime minister has denied claims the radar installation was to support the US in its strategic efforts against Venezuela. The country’s defense minister has stated that the nation “is not a launch pad for any hostile actions”.

However, opposition leaders have accused the administration of misleading the public. One accused the prime minister of being “complicit in extrajudicial killings” in the Caribbean Sea.

“With the establishment of a US military radar in Tobago, the country is now directly involving the country in American military strategy. Our standing has been tarnished as the government openly supports the agenda of Washington,” added a party head.

Broader Regional Implications

Caribbean political analyst Peter Wickham cautioned that the move risked taking the region back to a cold war dynamic. He argued that the “anti-drug campaign” was being used to justify an alignment with the US administration.

“If you have a US-administered military radar in Tobago, that’s essentially a base. It has to be operated by US personnel who will have a footprint on the island. They’re not just dropped and left. It’s something that has to be protected because it is also vulnerable to attack,” he explained.

He added that the militarisation of the Caribbean could be harmful for tourist-based economies and expressed fear that the US may be planning some action against Venezuela with a “eager ally” in the region.

For other opponents, the worry is that the prime minister is “making conscious choices” to draw the country into a conflict that would make it a target and put at risk its people and resources.

They further accused the leadership of “loudly and publicly cheerleading … what is clearly a regime-change agenda” alongside actions that appear to be “in violation of global norms.”