Former Jamaican Ambassador warns US military presence could shatter CARICOM unity

International consultant and former Jamaican ambassador Curtis Ward has warned that the reported movement of U.S. military aircraft in Trinidad and Tobago and a possible radar installation in Grenada could signal a major fracture in CARICOM’s long-standing “Zone of Peace” policy.

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Ward’s comments followed reports of a U.S. military aircraft landing at Piarco International Airport and sightings of suspected U.S. planes over Point Fortin. Hours later, Grenada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Washington had requested permission to temporarily install radar equipment and technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport.

Speaking to Guardian Media, Ward said the developments mark a serious departure from CARICOM’s collective foreign policy stance.

“Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has broken with CARICOM’s traditional Zone of Peace by inviting and welcoming the U.S. to stage military forces in Trinidad. The little unity that may have remained is already shattered,” Ward said.

While acknowledging that the full scope of Washington’s intentions remains unclear, Ward cautioned that the implications for Caribbean stability could be far-reaching. He linked the move to renewed U.S. pressure on Venezuela under President Donald Trump, suggesting that Grenada’s strategic location may have sparked American interest.

“The Trump administration wants regime change in Venezuela. Having failed during his first term, President Trump may now be determined to remove Maduro this time,” Ward said.

He added that a Grenadian base would add little military value, since the United States already possesses strong naval and air capabilities in the region.

Ward also referenced rising tensions involving Colombia, where reports have emerged that U.S. forces destroyed a vessel that Bogotá claims was Colombian, not Venezuelan. “The U.S. already has a major falling out with the Colombian president, which gives rise to other speculation,” he noted.

The former diplomat further pointed to the silence of several CARICOM members, including Jamaica, and Guyana’s security partnership with the U.S., as signs of shifting regional dynamics.

“Given the current Jamaican government’s approach of not doing anything, the U.S. could interpret it as being out of step with its policy. I don’t expect much from Jamaica on this issue,” he said.