“We told you so.”
That was the message conveyed by Opposition Senator Dr Amery Browne as he argued that the changing political landscape in the United States was bringing into sharper focus warnings previously issued by the People's National Movement (PNM) about Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's close alignment with US President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a PNM press conference on Thursday, 5 November 2026, Browne suggested that Trinidad and Tobago was moving beyond the stage of simply being warned about the dangers of its foreign policy direction. He argued that recent political developments in Washington were beginning to demonstrate why those warnings mattered.
The Opposition has repeatedly questioned the Government's approach to US relations, particularly its public support for American military operations in the Caribbean, its positions on Venezuela and Cuba, and its departure from longstanding regional diplomatic positions.
Browne's criticism comes against the backdrop of the November 3 US midterm elections and reports of Democratic electoral gains, which he presented as evidence of the political risks associated with placing too much emphasis on one American administration.
For Browne, the concern is not whether Trinidad and Tobago should maintain strong relations with Washington. Rather, it is whether the Government has allowed those relations to become too closely associated with President Trump personally and his political agenda.
The distinction is important because American presidents operate within a political system where Congress, the courts and future administrations can significantly influence policy.
A government that builds its diplomatic strategy around one political leader could therefore find itself facing a different political environment before that leader's term has ended.
Browne has also criticised the Persad-Bissessar administration over its approach to CARICOM, particularly decisions involving Venezuela, the Caribbean's designation as a Zone of Peace, and Trinidad and Tobago's voting positions on international matters.
He argued that the consequences of these decisions could extend beyond political disagreements and affect the country's diplomatic standing, regional relationships and long-term national interests.
The Opposition senator maintained that concerns about the Government's foreign policy were not limited to the PNM, pointing to criticism from figures previously associated with the United National Congress, including Rodney Charles and Jack Warner.
He suggested that the growing range of voices expressing concern demonstrated that the issue should not be dismissed as ordinary partisan politics.
Browne also warned that further consequences could emerge.
“The bad news is that there's likely more to come,” he said, while pledging that the PNM would continue holding the Government accountable for its international relations and domestic decisions.
His remarks effectively reposition the Opposition's argument from a warning about what might happen to a claim that the political circumstances it feared are already beginning to emerge.
However, the extent to which changes in the US political balance will affect Washington's relationship with Trinidad and Tobago remains uncertain. Electoral setbacks for Trump's party would not automatically end his presidency or remove his executive authority.
Nevertheless, Browne's central argument is that Trinidad and Tobago's foreign policy must be guided by enduring national interests rather than political loyalty to any individual American president.
As the political situation in Washington develops, the Government's approach to relations with the United States, CARICOM and neighbouring Venezuela is likely to remain a major point of contention.
For Browne and the PNM, the message is clear: the warnings have already been issued, and the Opposition believes the time has come to examine whether those warnings are becoming reality.