US to conduct five-day exercises in Trinidad and Tobago
The United States will begin five days of military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the Caribbean nation announced. The move follows last month’s deployment of a US guided-missile destroyer to the islands, which Venezuela condemned as a "military provocation."
Officials said the drills will include the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, already operating in the region as part of what Washington describes as a mission to "disrupt illicit drug trafficking" in the Caribbean. The Trinidad and Tobago government said the exercises are designed to improve interoperability, familiarize forces with each other’s tactics and provide training to help address domestic challenges such as drug-related crime and gang violence.
Trinidad and Tobago’s attorney general told the Financial Times that the US would "intensify" its exercises in the twin-island state. Foreign Minister Sean Sobers later denied the drills are a precursor to US military action in the area, particularly against Venezuela.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly supported a US presence in the region and has had political disputes with Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro. In recent weeks Washington has concentrated substantial naval assets in the Caribbean and deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the region.
Venezuela responded by announcing a "massive mobilization" of military personnel, weapons and equipment across the Caribbean. The move has fueled concerns that the two sides might be preparing for a wider confrontation, though both governments frame their actions differently: the US cites counter-narcotics objectives, while Venezuela presents its measures as defensive.
Some analysts have questioned why heavy assets such as the USS Gerald R. Ford are necessary for anti-drug operations, noting that the carrier represents one of the largest US military presences in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama. US media reported that President Donald Trump was presented with military options regarding Venezuela; he has not announced a decision and has previously expressed reservations about using force to remove Maduro.
Maduro told CNN his message to the US was "yes peace, yes peace," urging against escalation.
The Trinidad and Tobago government emphasized the drills are intended to build capacity for local security forces and strengthen cooperation against transnational crime. Observers say the coming days will be watched closely for signs of de-escalation or further buildup.
