Trinidad and Tobago announces new US military exercises

Trinidad and Tobago announced Friday a new round of joint military exercises with the United States, part of what officials describe as a long-standing security partnership aimed at strengthening domestic crime response. According to the foreign ministry, the drills with the U.S. Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will run from Sunday, November 16, through November 21.

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“These intensified exercises form part of our coordinated strategy to ensure that our personnel are optimally trained and equipped to address these issues in our domestic environment, which have taken a tremendous toll on our society,” the ministry said, referring to the scourge of gun-related crimes and gang violence affecting the country.

The announcement follows last month’s visit by the USS Gravely, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer that docked in Trinidad for four days of training exercises. The stop, within firing range of Venezuela, prompted Caracas to suspend an energy agreement with Trinidad and Tobago and declare Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar “persona non grata.”

The ministry stressed that the upcoming drills “form part of our longstanding history of collaboration” with the U.S. military, highlighting that the exercises are intended to enhance training and preparedness for local forces confronting domestic security challenges.

Tensions between the two neighbors have escalated further after Washington cleared Trinidad and Tobago to exploit the Dragon gas field in waters claimed by Venezuela, despite U.S. sanctions on Caracas’ energy sector. Meanwhile, U.S. forces in the region have intensified operations against drug trafficking, including strikes on 21 suspected smuggling vessels since September, resulting in at least 80 deaths.

Trinidad and Tobago maintains that its partnership with the U.S. is focused on improving national security, even as Venezuela continues to accuse Washington of attempting to destabilize the Maduro government.