US military radar dismantled, set to be removed from Tobago airport

A United States military radar system installed at the A.N.R. Robinson International Airport in Crown Point, Tobago, has been dismantled and is expected to be removed from the island shortly, according to reports and local sources.

The military-grade ground/air task-oriented radar, which had been stationed near the airport since late last year, is no longer at the site. Sources said the US-supplied equipment was taken down in recent days and is expected to be transported off the island soon.

A US military aircraft is expected to arrive in Tobago to remove the radar system, which reportedly costs about US$3 million per day to operate.

The radar was initially installed in November 2025, with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar saying it would assist local law enforcement in combating drug trafficking and monitoring suspicious activity, particularly in routes linked to Venezuela.

Speaking last week, Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine indicated that US troops stationed on the island would soon depart, saying they were expected to leave “in a couple days,” although he did not provide a specific date for their exit.

The radar deployment had been part of broader cooperation between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen surveillance of regional airspace and maritime routes used by narcotics traffickers.

The installation had also sparked political debate in the twin-island republic, with opposition figures questioning the extent of the US military presence and calling for greater transparency from the government about the arrangement.

Authorities have not yet provided details on whether the radar will be replaced or if additional security equipment will be installed at the airport once the US system is removed.