Trinidad and Tobago Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment

Trinidad and Tobago Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment

Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment in Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has dismissed Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar’s call to make public the details of agreements that a local newspaper claimed would allow the United States to deploy forces to Trinidad and Tobago in the event of a "conflict" in Venezuela.

"If a country is making its territory available for another country to stage military action against that country, that is a serious matter," Rowley told a news conference on Thursday, saying that the article by the Newsday had "far-reaching consequences" and a "danger to the national interest of Trinidad and Tobago."

Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment in Trinidad and Tobago

The government has signed five agreements with the United States, two of which could permit the US to station troops here in the event of a "conflict" in neighboring Venezuela, according to a report by the Newsday newspaper.

Prime Minister Rowley told reporters he was "disturbed" by the newspaper article, mainly since Trinidad and Tobago is well known for not interfering in countries’ internal affairs and plays a leading role in ensuring that the Caribbean remains a zone of peace.

"I know there are people in this country…who would like our initiatives to bear no fruit and to come to naught. But this is going too far. This is going too far," he added.

Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment in Trinidad and Tobago

Persad Bissessar, who said she was in the dark about the agreements like most of the population, called upon the government to make the details of those agreements public. She added that the government should make copies of those agreements so the population can be "fully aware of what we signed."

She asked whether those agreements were signed with "the (outgoing Joe) Biden administration or is it the (incoming Donald) Trump administration."

"I find it preposterous that you have a new (US) government coming in, and you are signing documents," she said, recalling that Prime Minister Rowley and other CARICOM leaders met recently in Barbados with a US Congressional delegation to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment in Trinidad and Tobago

Newsday reported that National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds signed off on five agreements with the United States on December 10. Two of these agreements allow the US Department of Defense (DoD) to deploy forces to this oil-rich twin island Republic in the event of a "conflict" in Venezuela.

The paper quoted a December 10 statement issued by the US Embassy here stating that Rowley, Hinds, Energy Minister Stuart Young, Finance Minister Colm Imbert, and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne met and held talks with US diplomatic and navy officials on security, energy, cybersecurity, and human rights issues.

Government Denies Reports of US Military Deployment in Trinidad and Tobago

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Trinidad and Tobago government has denied reports of US military deployment in the country, stating that any agreements signed with the US are solely for the purpose of ensuring regional security and cooperation, and not for the purpose of staging military action against another country.

FAQs

Q: What are the details of the agreements signed between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States?
A: The details of the agreements have not been made public, but the government has stated that they are solely for the purpose of ensuring regional security and cooperation.

Q: What is the purpose of the agreements?
A: The agreements are intended to facilitate cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States on issues related to security, energy, cybersecurity, and human rights.

Q: Has Trinidad and Tobago interfered in any other country’s internal affairs?
A: No, Trinidad and Tobago has not interfered in any other country’s internal affairs and has always maintained its neutrality in regional and international affairs.

Q: What is the United States’ role in the agreements?
A: The United States has played a key role in the agreements, providing technical assistance and support to Trinidad and Tobago in areas such as security, energy, and cybersecurity.