🔗 Share this article Trinidad and Tobago Grants US Military Use to Its Airports Amid Growing Strains with Venezuela The government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced it will permit the United States military to operate from its airports shortly. This development occurs amid increasing regional tensions between the US and its neighbor Venezuela. Radar Installation Sparks Debate The news comes after the deployment of a advanced radar system at an airport in Tobago. National officials maintain the radar's intended role is for combating illegal operations, emphatically denying a springboard for offensive actions against any nation. Government opponents caution, however, that the partnership could draw Trinidad and Tobago into former President Donald Trump's broader efforts against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Scope of Agreement and Official Statements In a ministry statement, US activities at the airports would be for logistical support, enabling stocking provisions and standard troop rotations. The statement offered no specifics regarding the scope. The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously praised US operations targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels in regional waters, strikes that have reportedly led to dozens of fatalities, among them several Trinidadian citizens. Earlier Statements and Subsequent Revelations Initially, Persad-Bissessar stated a US C-17 aircraft that landed in Tobago was transporting marines to help on a civilian road construction project. Yet, after images surfaced of the defense system, she acknowledged that at least 100 marines were present in the country, along with the powerful radar. This system, thought to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is used for air surveillance, air defense, and artillery detection capabilities. Proximity and Geography The twin-island nation lies a mere seven miles from Venezuela at their narrowest separation. The country has two primary airports: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago. The airport access agreement comes after a previous incident in October, when a US naval vessel was stationed in Trinidad's capital, signaling the Trump administration's ramped-up military posture against Venezuela. Meanwhile, US lawmakers have raised questions about the legality of the aforementioned maritime strikes and have announced a congressional review.