The recent deployment of more than 4,000 U.S. sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean, close to Venezuela, has stirred questions across the region. Officially, Washington describes the mission as part of counter narcotics and security operations. Yet the scale of this move, larger than typical interdiction patrols, signals that it is also meant to apply pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro.
For Trinidad and Tobago, located just 11 kilometers from Venezuela at the nearest point, the implications are serious but not necessarily dire. The presence of U.S. forces can bring immediate benefits such as stronger surveillance, tighter patrols, and potential disruption of trafficking routes that have long harmed our society. However, it also places us directly in the shadow of a geopolitical contest between a superpower and our closest neighbor.
History teaches us that U.S. deployments abroad rarely last forever. From Afghanistan to Libya and Syria, Washington has shown that once domestic political will fades, it often withdraws quickly, sometimes leaving behind instability. If Maduro’s government were to collapse, the resulting uncertainty could spill across the Gulf of Paria into our own waters. If Maduro remains, we must prepare to live alongside a government that may view us suspiciously after such a visible American military presence nearby.
So what does this mean for Trinidad and Tobago? First, it is not a moment for panic, but it is a moment for discipline. We should welcome the benefits of counternarcotics support but avoid reckless statements or actions that could drag us into conflicts we cannot fight. Our leaders must prioritize three things.
Protecting our sovereignty by ensuring that U.S. operations in the region do not compromise our independence or territory.
Strengthening our maritime and border security so that, regardless of U.S. actions, we can manage trafficking, illegal migration, and potential humanitarian spillovers.
Safeguarding our energy future, particularly the Dragon gas field project, which could be affected by U.S. Venezuela tensions.
Trinidad and Tobago is not a superpower, nor should we try to act like one. Our strength lies in careful diplomacy, solid preparation, and a clear focus on national interest. By staying mindful and measured, we can navigate the rough waters ahead without being swept away by the tides of larger powers.
