Caribbean Island Seven Miles From Venezuela Grants U.S. Military Access to Airports as Tensions in the Region Rise

Trinidad and Tobago said it will allow the U.S. military to access its two main airports in the coming weeks for logistical activities, a move that drew an immediate backlash from Venezuela and added to rising regional tensions driven by an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.

In a statement, Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the access would be limited to "logistical" purposes, including supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations.

The announcement followed the recent installation of a U.S. military radar system at the airport in Tobago, which authorities said is intended to combat local crime, as France 24 reports. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar clarified back on November 19 that "the United States NEVER asked to use our territory to launch attacks against the people of Venezuela" and that "Trinidad and Tobago will NOT be used to launch attacks against the people of Venezuela."

The twin-island nation lies about seven miles from Venezuela at its closest point and hosts Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

Hours after the announcement, Venezuelan Vice President and Hydrocarbons Minister Delcy Rodríguez said Caracas was immediately suspending all contracts, agreements, and negotiations to supply natural gas to Trinidad and Tobago, accusing the Trinidadian government of aligning with Washington to "aggress" Venezuela and describing the airport access as part of a hostile agenda.

Rodríguez also blamed Trinidad and Tobago for facilitating the recent U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, calling it "an act of piracy."

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar lated rejected the accusations, calling them "simply false propaganda." She told the Associated Press that complaints should be directed at President Donald Trump, since the tanker seizure was carried out by the U.S. military. "In the meantime, we continue to have peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people," she said, adding that Trinidad and Tobago has "never depended" on Venezuelan gas and has sufficient domestic reserves.

Opposition figures inside Triniedad were more critical, as France 24 points out. Former foreign minister and opposition senator Amery Browne said the government had been deceptive and warned that the arrangement risked turning Trinidad and Tobago into a "satellite state."