🔗 Share this article Trinidad and Tobago Allows US Military Access to Its Airports As Escalating Tensions with Venezuela The government of Trinidad and Tobago has stated it will permit the United States military to utilize its airports in coming weeks. This development occurs amid increasing regional tensions between the US and nearby Venezuela. New Defense System Raises Questions The news follows the recent deployment of a military-grade radar system at an airport in Tobago. Caribbean authorities state the radar's sole use is for curtailing domestic crime, asserting it is not a launchpad for offensive actions against another country. Critics and opposition figures warn, however, that the partnership risks pulling Trinidad and Tobago into ex-President Donald Trump's broader efforts against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Nature of Access and Government Explanation In a foreign affairs statement, US activities at the airports would be focused on logistics, facilitating supply replenishment and regular staff changes. Officials offered no specifics regarding the scope. The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has in the past supported US operations targeting suspected drug ships in regional waters, strikes that have allegedly resulted in dozens of fatalities, including 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 transporting marines to assist with a civilian road construction project. However, when pictures emerged of the radar installation, she conceded that no fewer than 100 marines were on the ground in the country, accompanied by the high-performance radar. The radar, believed to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is used for aerial monitoring, defense, and artillery detection capabilities. Close Neighbors The twin-island nation is situated 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 follows a previous incident in October, when a US naval vessel docked in Trinidad's capital, signaling the Trump administration's ramped-up military pressure on Venezuela. Meanwhile, Congressional representatives have raised questions about the lawfulness of the aforementioned maritime strikes and have announced a review process.