🔗 Share this article Trinidad and Tobago Grants US Military Access to National Airfields Amid Growing Strains with Venezuela Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has announced it will allow the United States military to operate from its airports shortly. This move follows mounting strained relations between the US and nearby Venezuela. New Defense System Sparks Debate This announcement follows the recent installation of a military-grade radar system at an airport in Tobago. National authorities state the radar's primary purpose is for curtailing illegal operations, emphatically denying a base for military strikes against another country. Skeptics caution, however, that this cooperation might entangle Trinidad and Tobago into ex-President Donald Trump's intensifying political strategy against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Scope of Agreement and Government Explanation In a foreign affairs statement, US use at the airports would be “logistical in nature”, assisting with resupply efforts and standard troop rotations. The government provided no further details regarding the scope. The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has in the past commended US airstrikes targeting alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, actions that have allegedly led to dozens of deaths, including several Trinidadian citizens. Initial Claims and Later Disclosures At first, Persad-Bissessar stated a US C-17 aircraft arriving in Tobago was carrying marines to assist with a local road construction project. Yet, following photographic evidence of the defense system, she acknowledged that at least 100 marines were present in the country, accompanied by the powerful radar. The radar, identified as a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is described as aerial monitoring, air defense, and artillery detection operations. Close Neighbors Trinidad and Tobago lies a mere seven miles from Venezuela at their closest point. It has main airports: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago. The airport access agreement comes after a previous incident in October, when a US naval vessel was stationed in Trinidad's capital, as part of the Trump administration's increased military pressure on Venezuela. In related developments, American legislators have raised questions about the legality of the aforementioned maritime strikes and have announced a congressional review.