The government of Trinidad and Tobago has declared its support for US military operations targeting what it describes as “terrorist drug cartels” in the Caribbean, while making clear it will not engage through the regional Caricom bloc on the matter.
Support for Washington’s campaign
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the decision on Sunday, framing it as a direct response to the escalating threat of organised crime. She highlighted how drug, arms and human trafficking have destabilised the nation and much of the wider Caribbean for two decades, stretching law enforcement resources to breaking point. Trinidad, she said, lacks the capacity to counter such well-armed networks without international assistance.
Bypassing Caricom
In a move that underscores Port of Spain’s determination to assert national independence in foreign policy, the government confirmed it has “no intention of engaging Caricom” on the issue. Each member state, it argued, must define its own security stance rather than relying on collective decision-making. The position is likely to stir debate within the 15-member bloc, where responses to external security interventions have historically varied.
Regional security implications
Persad-Bissessar stressed that no request has yet been made by Washington for use of Trinidadian territory. However, she added that the government would be prepared to consider access should Venezuela escalate tensions with Guyana and if the US sought logistical support. The comment underlines the broader geopolitical context in which the Caribbean increasingly finds itself entangled, with Venezuelan disputes spilling over into regional security calculations.
Balancing autonomy and alliances
Observers suggest Trinidad’s stance is intended both to reassure domestic audiences concerned about rising violence and to align strategically with Washington at a time when cartel activity has intensified. The decision to act outside the Caricom framework may strengthen bilateral ties with the US but could also widen divisions among Caribbean states, some of which have historically resisted foreign military involvement in the region.
REFH – Newshub, 25 August 2025
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