Opposition Senator Dr Amery Browne has raised questions about Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the Shield of the Americas, a United States-led coalition aimed at combating drug trafficking.
Speaking at a People’s National Movement (PNM) news conference yesterday at the Office of the Opposition on Charles Street, Port of Spain, Browne said the public first learned of the arrangement in August 2025, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Trinidad and Tobago was among several Caribbean and Latin American countries involved in a coalition designed to stop the flow of drugs into the United States.
Browne said the Prime Minister must clarify whether the coalition she recently referenced is the same one mentioned in that earlier announcement.
“So the question to the Prime Minister is: what is the difference between what we have now joined and what the US Secretary of State indicated we joined in August 2025, which was a US-led coalition comprising Caribbean and Latin American countries operating to stop the flow of drugs into the United States of America?” Browne said.
He added that the issue goes beyond academic curiosity, noting that significant developments have occurred in the region since the initial announcement.
Browne also questioned the process by which Trinidad and Tobago committed to the initiative.
“Another question to the Prime Minister is: what exactly has she signed on to? Has it been scrutinised by the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago? Has it been examined by the Cabinet of this country? Upon whose advice was it done? Was there any vetting, and was it on the good advice of Minister Sobers?” he asked.
He further raised concerns about the apparent absence of major drug-producing countries in the coalition.
“There are many other questions, such as the apparent non-involvement of source countries in such a coalition—Colombia, Peru, Mexico—and it all comes down to the question of trust: do we trust this Government to make decisions on behalf of the people of this country?” Browne said.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar signed Trinidad and Tobago onto what was described as a historic hemispheric initiative led by the United States to combat drug cartels and protect the Americas from external threats.
Standing alongside Donald Trump, Persad-Bissessar witnessed the signing of a proclamation committing to the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, which focuses on using force to confront criminal cartels. The signing took place during the Shield of the Americas Summit at Trump National Doral Miami.
Concerns over stance on Iran conflict
Browne also criticised the Government’s support for US and Israeli actions in Iran, saying many citizens—including members of the Government and the Muslim community—have expressed concern about the country’s stance.
He noted that two Muslim members of the Government had attempted to distance themselves from the position taken by the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs. On February 28, the ministry issued a statement expressing support for the actions of the United States and Israel in Iran, while also expressing solidarity with Gulf states that faced retaliatory missile strikes from the Iranian regime.
Government Senator David Nakhid said in a media interview last week that he rejected the actions of what he described as the “Zionist” regime, adding that the Prime Minister was aware of his views and respected them.
Government Minister Saddam Hosein also expressed concern last week for oppressed Muslims around the world, noting that he was praying for peace during the holy month of Ramadan.
Browne challenged both Government officials and the media to identify any previous instance in which a Trinidad and Tobago government publicly supported military action in another sovereign country without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council.
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