The Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago announced on Monday that it has allowed US military aircraft to use its airport, amid escalating fears that Washington may be planning an attack on neighboring Venezuela, an AFP report said.
The archipelago of Trinidad and Tobago, located only about twelve kilometers from Venezuela at its closest point, strongly supports US President Donald Trump’s efforts to exert military and economic pressure on Caracas.
Trinidad’s foreign ministry said it had approved US military aircraft access to its airport “in the coming weeks”.
The department said Washington would use them for “logistical” tasks such as “facilitating resupply and routine personnel rotation.”
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has welcomed US forces to her country as Washington expands a significant military presence in the Caribbean.
US officials have said the operation is intended to fight “narco-terrorists”, but the Trump administration is particularly increasing pressure on Venezuela and its leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington does not consider a legitimate president.
In October, a US guided-missile destroyer stayed off the coast of Trinidad for four days to conduct joint exercises within range of Venezuela, while a contingent of US sailors took part in exercises in the archipelago last month.
Persad-Bissessar said the US had installed radar at Tobago’s new airport to monitor Venezuela’s drug trafficking and oil shipments to circumvent sanctions.
On Monday, Caracas accused Trinidad and Tobago of complicity in the “theft” of Venezuelan oil last week after US forces seized a tanker it said was in violation of sanctions.
Washington said the action was aimed at Maduro’s “regime”, while Caracas condemned it as an act of “international piracy”.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accused Persad-Bissessar of carrying out a “hostile agenda against Venezuela” and reaffirmed that Caracas would stop its neighbor’s gas extraction.
Trinidadian Foreign Minister Sean Sobers said the decision reflected the government’s commitment “to cooperation and collaboration in the pursuit of the security and safety of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region”.
Troubles between the US and Venezuela
The seizure of an oil tanker near Venezuela last week follows a long series of US military strikes targeting suspected drug vessels from the country. The US has also significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, with Trump frequently threatening to intervene and even authorizing Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operations.
(With input from agencies.)
