US warship leaves quietly amid Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela fallout

The USS Gravely, an American warship, leaves the Port of Port of Spain on October 30 after a five-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago. - Photo by Lincoln Holder

DESPITE fierce debate surrounding its visit, which further strained relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyer of the US Navy, departed Port of Spain on October 30.

The vessel, named after Vice Admiral Samuel L Gravely Jr, was commissioned in 2010 and has since undertaken several overseas deployments. Gravely is the 57th destroyer in her class. She left the Port of Spain dock around 10 am, to little fanfare.

Her docking sparked not only regional, but also international discourse, as several international media houses reported her arrival. The Gravely's visit prompted a response from Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro accused TT of collaborating with the US and the CIA to provoke a military confrontation in the Caribbean. Maduro further claimed its presence was part of a broader plan to destabilise Venezuela.

The vessel arrived on October 26 for a joint training exercise with the TT Defence Force, escorted by two tugboats and Coast Guard vessels, accompanied by members of the 22nd US Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar welcomed the destroyer’s visit, commending the US military’s regional efforts, including operations targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean.

On its departure, the waterfront was quiet. Aside from a small group of Muslim women, children, and a few workers from the nearby Judiciary and Hyatt hotel, few seemed aware Gravely was leaving. Some passers-by asked what the commotion was about.

A group of men and women leave the waterfront in Port of Spain prior to the USS Gravely’s departure after it spending four days in Trinidad and Tobago. The group decided to leave as the ship’s departure was delayed. on October 30. - Photo by Joey Bartlett

As the ship slowly pulled away from the dock, a man of Chinese descent, wearing shorts and a baseball cap, looked on and muttered, “Piece of junk,” referring to the destroyer’s worn appearance.

Most onlookers avoided speaking to the media, some admitting they had slipped away from work to catch a glimpse, while others feared expressing an opinion might make them targets of online criticism, given the heated debates surrounding the vessel’s visit.

A driver, who requested anonymity, shared his thoughts with Newsday, saying the TT public “don’t think before commenting,” while describing the US as a major power.

The driver believes if anything were to happen “with leftist countries like Russia or China, the US is the one that can respond.”

He stressed while Venezuela is “our neighbour,” the two nations “don’t have open trade or close relations, same with Cuba. We can’t fool ourselves.”

Reflecting on TT’s long-standing co-operation with the US, he said, “The US always helps with training, coast guard vessels, and surveillance. Sometimes they come three or four times a year to train our army and police,” insisting the visit was "nothing strange."

He argued if there was ever an attack from Venezuela toward Trinidad or Guyana, with the US as a strong ally, the country would be safe.

Turning his attention to the local media, he criticised the coverage of the Gravely, calling it “unprofessional.”

He further chastised journalists, adding, “They are afraid to question those in power. The press has a big role to play in society, but they’re not doing what’s required!”

In his final comments on the media before walking away, he said, “Just believe the media, right? They write whatever they want.”