[News] Opposition accuses PM of selling out Trinidad to US military agenda

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/opposition-accuses-pm-of-selling-out-trinidad-to-us-military>
Opposition accuses PM of selling out Trinidad to US military agenda
Al Mayadeen English
December 2, 2025
------------------------------

A US radar system and over 100 American marines in Tobago have raised
alarms over Caribbean sovereignty and rising tensions with Venezuela.

   - [image: A poster of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla
   Persad-Bissessar hosts the Spanish word for]
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/12/2/55788028-d64e-4ffc-bd05-cbbb48cc06b3.jpg?width=1000>
   A poster of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hosts
   the Spanish word for "Traitor" on it during a government-organized march,
   in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (*AP*)

The Trinidad and Tobago government is facing mounting scrutiny after
confirming that a US military radar system and at least 100 American
marines are currently stationed in the country
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/trinidad-and-tobago-on-high-alert-as-us-venezuela-tensions-e>,
fuelling concerns that the Caribbean could be drawn into rising tensions
between the US and Venezuela.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar initially sought to reassure the
public following reports that a US C-17 transport aircraft had landed in
the country, saying it was delivering personnel to assist with a road
project and insisting no marines remained on the ground. However, videos
and photographs circulating on social media later showed US Marines
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/venezuela-slams-trinidad-and-tobago--declares-pm-persona-non>
at a Tobago hotel, alongside images of a military-grade radar installation.

Pressed by reporters on Friday, Persad-Bissessar acknowledged the presence
of the troops, as well as the installation of what is believed to be a
long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radar system, manufactured by US defense
contractor Northrop Grumman. She maintained the equipment
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/venezuela-moves-to-suspend-energy-agreements-with-trinidad-a>
was deployed strictly for counter–drug trafficking operations, arguing that
the government had withheld information to avoid tipping off criminal
groups.

The prime minister has denied allegations
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/caracas-slams--military-provocation--by-us--trinidad-and-tob>
that the radar facility forms part of Washington’s pressure campaign
against Venezuela, while Defense Minister Wayne Sturge insisted that
“Trinidad and Tobago is not a launch pad for any military operations.”
Caribbean ancestors are all turning in their graves: Opposition figures

Opposition figures, however, have accused the government of misleading the
public
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-holds-joint-military-drills-with-trinidad-and-tobago-near>.
Former national security minister Marvin Gonzales said Persad-Bissessar’s
administration had “sold the soul of the nation for a mess of pottage,”
warning that the move had betrayed the region’s longstanding principles.
“Caribbean ancestors are all turning in their graves for what has befallen
our beautiful Caribbean,” he said.

Echoing these concerns, David Abdulah, political leader of Trinidad’s
Movement for Social Justice, accused the prime minister of being “complicit
in the extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea."

He added that “with the installation of a US military radar in Tobago, it
is now directly involving the country in the US war plans
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/trinidad-and-tobago-probes-deaths-in-us-airstrike-near-venez>.
Our international reputation has been tarnished as the government
unapologetically sides with the agenda of Washington.”
US escalates its anti-Venezuela campaign

This comes as the United States continues to escalate
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/schumer-warns-congress-will-block-trump-s-escalation-in-vene>
 its campaign against Venezuela, with the alleged aim of curbing drug
trafficking into the country.

On November 29, US President Donald Trump declared that the airspace over
and around Venezuela is to be treated as completely closed
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/colombia-resumes-flights-to-venezuela--rejects-us-airspace-c>,
posting on Truth Social a message directed at airlines, pilots, drug
traffickers, and human traffickers, urging them to consider the entire
airspace above and surrounding Venezuela off-limits and warning that this
restriction is to be enforced
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/un-urges-respect-for-aviation-law-following-us-warning-on-ve>
.

This follows remarks made by Trump, warning on November 27 that US
operations against Venezuelan drug trafficking "by land" would begin very
soon, claiming, "We've almost stopped — it's about 85% stopped by sea. The
land is easier, but that's going to start very soon."

The closure declaration follows a substantial US military deployment
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/leaked-contracts-reveal-long-term-us-buildup-near-venezuela>
 to the Caribbean, the largest in decades. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier
strike group, including advanced fighter jets, warships, and over 15,000
personnel, entered the region in mid-November. Strategic B-52 bombers have
also flown near Venezuelan territory, including a high-profile flight near
Caracas on November 24.

These moves fall under Operation Southern Spear
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-announces--op-southern-spear--amid-push-for-venezuela-int?utm_source=mango-searchx&utm_medium=title_and_relatives&utm_campaign=southern%20spear>,
a newly launched campaign targeting what Washington calls "narco-terrorist"
threats in the Western Hemisphere. The US has already conducted over 20
maritime strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels since September,
killing at least 83 people.

Additionally, on November 24, the US designated the Cartel de los Soles as
a "foreign terrorist organization." The US government alleges this "cartel"
is led by Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials, though Venezuela rejected
the designation as a "ridiculous fabrication".
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