PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD – Trinidad and Tobago announced Monday that it will grant the U.S. military access to its airports in the coming weeks amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The decision follows the recent installation of a radar system at Tobago’s airport, which the Trinidadian government said is intended for local crime monitoring and not for launching attacks on other nations.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. operations at the airports will focus on logistical support, including supply replenishment and personnel rotations, though no additional details were provided. The nation’s prime minister has previously expressed support for U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean. Opposition voices have criticized the move, with former foreign minister and senator Amery Browne calling it misleading and warning that it positions the country as a “complicit facilitator” in extrajudicial actions and cross-border tensions. The U.S. military presence comes as it intensifies operations near Venezuela, including strikes that have reportedly killed more than 80 people and the deployment of a large fleet of warships. Lawmakers in the United States have raised questions about the legality of these actions and announced a congressional review.