The government of Trinidad and Tobago announced that it has granted approval for United States military aircraft to transit its airports in the coming weeks, a development occurring against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas over sanctions enforcement and regional security concerns.
Trinidad and Tobago, situated only seven miles from Venezuela at its closest point, has positioned itself as a strategic partner in the United States' ongoing campaign of military and economic measures targeting President Nicolás Maduro, whose leadership the Trump administration continues to contest while prioritizing operations against alleged narco-trafficking networks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the airport access would be limited to logistical purposes, encompassing supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations, with Foreign Minister emphasizing the initiative as an extension of longstanding bilateral cooperation aimed at bolstering safety and security for Trinidad and Tobago and the broader Caribbean region.
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Prior military engagements have intensified this alliance, including the October docking of the USS Gravely guided missile destroyer in Port-of-Spain for joint exercises, subsequent drills involving US Marines in November, and the recent deployment of a sophisticated AN/TPS-80 radar system at Tobago's ANR Robinson International Airport to enhance surveillance of potential drug trafficking routes and sanctions-violating oil shipments.
Caracas reacted vehemently, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez denouncing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for maintaining a hostile stance and effectively transforming the nation into a platform for US operations; Venezuela further accused Trinidad and Tobago of complicity in the December 10 US seizure of the oil tanker Skipper—labeled as international piracy—and promptly suspended all natural gas exploration agreements and related negotiations with its neighbor.
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