Trinidad and Tobago approves transit of US military aircraft through airports

The Trinidad and Tobago government has approved the transit of United States military aircraft through the country’s airports in the coming weeks, a move officials describe as routine but one that has sparked strong criticism from the political opposition.

- Advertisement -

In a media release issued Monday, the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs said the approved aircraft movements are “logistical in nature,” intended to facilitate supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations.

Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers said the decision reflects the government’s continued cooperation with Washington, noting that the partnership has delivered concrete benefits to Trinidad and Tobago, including joint military training exercises, enhanced surveillance capabilities and the installation of a radar system used in narcotics interdiction.

Sobers said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to “cooperation and collaboration in the pursuit of safety and security for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region.” The ministry also noted that the U.S. Embassy has supported national development through initiatives such as donations of school equipment and other educational support.

However, former Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Minister Dr. Amery Browne sharply criticized the government’s announcement, calling it “deceptive.”

Speaking on a local radio program, Browne said Trinidad and Tobago had never before granted what he described as blanket permission for unspecified foreign military aircraft to use local airspace and airports.

“There is nothing routine about this,” Browne said. “This has nothing to do with the usual cooperation and friendly collaborations that we have enjoyed for decades with the United States and our neighbours.”

Browne argued that the government’s statement risks undermining Trinidad and Tobago’s long-standing foreign policy posture and regional standing, claiming it moves the country away from established CARICOM principles.

Foreign Minister Sobers rejected those claims, saying the government remains in close engagement with the U.S. Embassy and is acting in the national and regional interest. “We welcome the continued support of the United States,” Sobers said.

- Advertisement -

The approval comes against the backdrop of increased U.S. military activity in the Caribbean linked to counter-narcotics operations. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has publicly supported U.S.-led efforts aimed at disrupting the illegal drug trade, a position that political observers note differs from that of several other CARICOM member states, which have repeatedly emphasized maintaining the Caribbean as a zone of peace.

Venezuela has also expressed concern in recent months, accusing Washington of using counter-narcotics operations as a pretext for broader geopolitical objectives, including efforts to destabilize the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs reiterated that cooperation with the United States has contributed to the interception of millions of dollars’ worth of illegal narcotics and strengthened Trinidad and Tobago’s national security capacity.

Browne, however, said the prime minister has failed to adequately explain the implications of the policy shift to the public.

“For the past six months, the prime minister has refused to address this nation and properly explain what she has done to our neutral foreign policy and our standing in the region and the world,” Browne said.

The government has not indicated how many aircraft are expected to transit Trinidad and Tobago or the specific duration of the approvals, beyond saying the movements will occur “in the coming weeks.”