US Warship’s Arrival in Trinidad and Tobago Intensifies Diplomatic Tensions with Venezuela

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (AP) A United States naval vessel made its entrance into the capital of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, signaling a continuation of the Trump administration’s escalated military stance towards Venezuela and its leader, Nicolás Maduro.

The USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, has docked in this Caribbean nation’s capital, joining the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is also advancing towards Venezuela. President Maduro has condemned the deployment of the carrier, accusing the U.S. of attempting to instigate “a new eternal war” against his administration.

Without presenting evidence, U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that Maduro is at the helm of the criminal organization known as Tren de Aragua.

Officials from both the United States and the twin-island nation announced that the warship will be stationed in Trinidad until Thursday to facilitate joint training exercises between the two countries.

A high-ranking military source in Trinidad and Tobago, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information, revealed to The Associated Press that this operation was only recently planned.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has been a vocal supporter of the U.S. military presence and the deadly strikes on suspected drug boats in waters off Venezuela.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz said in a statement that the exercises seek to “address shared threats like transnational crime and build resilience through training, humanitarian missions, and security efforts.”

On Sunday, Venezuela said the “dangerous conduct of military exercises” in the waters of a neighboring country constitute a “serious threat” to the Caribbean region and a “hostile provocation” toward the South American nation, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The visit by the warship comes one week after the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago warned Americans to stay away from U.S. government facilities there. Local authorities said a reported threat against Americans prompted the warning.

Many people in Trinidad and Tobago criticize the warship’s docking in town.

At a recent demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy, David Abdulah, the leader of the Movement for Social Justice political party, said Trinidad and Tobago should not have allowed the warship into its waters.

“This is a warship in Trinidad, which will be anchored here for several days just miles off Venezuela when there’s a threat of war,” he said. “That’s an abomination.”

Caricom, a regional trade bloc made up of 15 Caribbean countries, has called for dialogue. Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the group, but Persad-Bissessar has said the region is not a zone of peace, citing the number of murders and other violent crimes.