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The government of Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed it will permit the United States military to operate from its airports in the near future. This development comes as increasing geopolitical friction between the US and its neighbor Venezuela.

Radar Installation Sparks Debate

The news comes after the installation of a military-grade radar system at an airport in Tobago. Caribbean authorities maintain the radar's sole use is for combating illegal operations, emphatically denying a springboard for offensive actions against another country.

Skeptics caution, however, that this cooperation could draw Trinidad and Tobago into former President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts against Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro.

Scope of Agreement and Official Statements

In a foreign affairs statement, US operations at the airports would be focused on logistics, enabling resupply efforts and standard troop rotations. The government did not elaborate on the matter.

The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously commended US operations targeting alleged drug boats in regional waters, actions that have allegedly led to dozens of deaths, among them several Trinidadian citizens.

Initial Claims and Later Disclosures

At first, Persad-Bissessar said a US C-17 aircraft that landed in Tobago was transporting marines to support a civilian road construction project. However, following photographic evidence of the defense system, she admitted that no fewer than 100 marines were present in the country, accompanied by the powerful radar.

This system, thought to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is marketed as air surveillance, defense, and artillery detection capabilities.

Proximity and Geography

The twin-island nation lies a mere seven miles from Venezuela at their closest point. It has main airports: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago.

This development comes after a prior event in October, when a US naval vessel was stationed in Trinidad's capital, signaling the Trump administration's ramped-up military posture on Venezuela.

In related developments, US lawmakers have expressed doubts about the legality of the recent maritime strikes and have called for a congressional review.