🔗 Share this article Trinidad and Tobago Allows US Military Use to Its Airports Amid Rising Tensions with Venezuela Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed it will authorize the United States military to operate from its airports in the near future. This development follows increasing geopolitical friction between the US and its neighbor Venezuela. New Defense System Fuels Controversy This statement comes after the setup of a sophisticated radar system at an airport in Tobago. National officials state the radar's sole use is for combating domestic crime, emphatically denying a base for offensive actions against another country. Critics and opposition figures caution, however, that the partnership risks pulling Trinidad and Tobago into former President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Scope of Agreement and Official Statements As per a ministry statement, US activities at the airports would be for logistical support, enabling stocking provisions and standard troop rotations. Officials offered no specifics regarding the scope. The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously praised US airstrikes targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, actions that have reportedly led to dozens of deaths, among them a number of Trinidadian citizens. Initial Claims and Later Disclosures At first, Persad-Bissessar claimed a US C-17 aircraft arriving in Tobago was transporting marines to help on a civilian road construction project. Yet, when pictures emerged of the radar installation, she acknowledged that at least 100 marines were stationed in the country, accompanied by the powerful radar. This system, identified as a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is described as aerial monitoring, defense, and artillery detection operations. Close Neighbors The twin-island nation is situated extremely close from Venezuela at their closest point. It has two primary international gateways: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago. This development comes after a previous incident in October, when a US naval vessel docked in Trinidad's capital, signaling the Trump administration's ramped-up military posture against Venezuela. Meanwhile, Congressional representatives have raised questions about the legality of the aforementioned maritime strikes and have called for a review process.