🔗 Share this article Trinidad and Tobago Grants US Military Use to National Airfields Amid Growing Tensions with Venezuela Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed it will authorize the United States military to operate from its airports in coming weeks. This decision comes as increasing regional tensions between the US and nearby Venezuela. Radar Installation Fuels Controversy This statement comes after the setup of a sophisticated radar system at an airport in Tobago. National the government maintain the radar's primary purpose is for fighting domestic crime, asserting it is not a springboard for attacks against foreign states. Critics and opposition figures warn, however, that these arrangements might entangle Trinidad and Tobago into ex-President Donald Trump's ongoing pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Scope of Agreement and Government Explanation In a foreign affairs statement, US activities at the airports would be “logistical in nature”, assisting with supply replenishment and standard troop rotations. Officials offered no specifics beyond this. The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously praised US military strikes targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, strikes that have reportedly resulted in numerous deaths, among them a number of Trinidadian citizens. Initial Claims and Subsequent Revelations At first, Persad-Bissessar stated a US C-17 aircraft that landed in Tobago was transporting marines to support a civilian road construction project. Yet, following photographic evidence of the radar installation, she conceded that at least 100 marines were present in the country, accompanied by the high-performance radar. The radar, thought to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is marketed as air surveillance, air defense, and artillery detection capabilities. Close Neighbors The twin-island nation lies a mere seven miles from Venezuela at their narrowest separation. The country has two primary international gateways: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago. The airport access agreement comes after a prior event in October, when a US warship was stationed in Trinidad's capital, signaling the Trump administration's growing military posture towards Venezuela. In related developments, Congressional representatives have raised questions about the lawfulness of the recent maritime strikes and have called for a congressional review.