PM Persad-Bissessar calls US visit a ‘strategic victory’ for Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday described her recent visit to the United States as more than a diplomatic engagement, calling it “a strategic victory for Trinidad and Tobago.”

Speaking in Parliament, Persad-Bissessar highlighted her meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and attendance at the inaugural Shield of the Americas Summit, where select leaders from across the Western Hemisphere gathered.

“A win for our security. A win for our economy, and a win for the future of our nation. Trinidad and Tobago’s government was present. Trinidad and Tobago’s government was heard, and Trinidad and Tobago’s government will continue to stand strong in defence of our law-abiding citizens,” she said.

During the summit, Trinidad and Tobago joined the newly formed Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a strategic alliance designed to confront cartel violence through coordinated security efforts, intelligence sharing, and joint operations across the Americas. Guyana is the only other CARICOM member in the coalition, which also includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Paraguay.

Persad-Bissessar emphasized that Trinidad and Tobago’s crime crisis cannot be addressed in isolation, noting that illegal drugs, firearms, and organized gangs operate as part of transnational networks stretching from South America through the Caribbean into North America.

“These are not just local problems. They are hemispheric challenges requiring an international response,” she said, adding that her administration made it clear upon assuming office in April last year that Trinidad and Tobago would work with the United States and regional partners to target narcotics traffickers and dismantle criminal networks.

The Prime Minister said the coalition will provide tangible benefits, including real-time intelligence sharing on trafficking routes, gang leaders, financial networks, and weapons shipments. She also highlighted the coalition’s role in preventing illegal firearms from entering Caribbean communities.

“Through coordinated enforcement and investigative cooperation, coalition members can help stop these weapons before they reach our streets. Our police and defence forces will benefit from joint training, advanced technology, and operational cooperation,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar also detailed her bilateral meetings during the summit, including discussions with Trump, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, covering issues such as border security, Venezuela, and regional defence cooperation.

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She visited U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), where she discussed strengthening defence cooperation and combating designated terrorist organizations operating in the Caribbean, inviting Commander General Donovan to visit Trinidad and Tobago later this year.

Persad-Bissessar said the joint security declaration signed by 17 countries reaffirms a shared commitment to peace, sovereignty, and stability in the region.

“This coalition is a shield for the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said, extending her “deep gratitude” to President Trump for including the country in this historic initiative.