Radar revelation stokes fears Caribbean could be drawn into US-Venezuela crisis

The revelation that Trinidad and Tobago has approved the installation of a US military radar facility has stoked fears that the Caribbean could be drawn into the escalating crisis between the US and Venezuela.

Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had attempted to allay concerns about a US C-17 aircraft that had landed in the country, claiming it was carrying marines to assist with a road construction project. She also claimed she was told that no marines remained in the country.

But images and videos later emerged of US marines at a Tobago hotel and of a radar installation on the island.

After being pressed by reporters, Persad-Bissessar admitted on Friday that at least 100 marines were in the country, along with a military-grade radar, believed to be a long-range, high-performance AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, which the US defence company Northrop Grumman said was used for air surveillance, defence and counter-fire.

The prime minister claimed the radar installation in the country, which is only seven miles away from Venezuela at its closest point, is part of a counter-drug trafficking strategy, and that she had withheld details in the interest of national security and to avoid alerting drug traffickers.

Persad-Bissessar has consistently expressed strong support for the US military buildup in the Caribbean. Since September, the US has launched at least 21 airstrikes on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, killing more than 80 people – including several Trinidadian citizens.

The Pentagon has also deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, and its accompanying strike group to South American waters, in one of the biggest mobilizations of US military power in the region for decades.

But the prime minister has rejected claims the radar installation was to support the US in its pressure campaign against Venezuela.

Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of defense, Wayne Sturge, has said that the country “is not a launch pad for any military operations”.

About the Author: Patriotman

Patriotman currently ekes out a survivalist lifestyle in a suburban northeastern state as best as he can. He has varied experience in political science, public policy, biological sciences, and higher education. Proudly Catholic and an Eagle Scout, he has no military experience and thus offers a relatable perspective for the average suburban prepper who is preparing for troubled times on the horizon with less than ideal teams and in less than ideal locations. Brushbeater Store Page: http://bit.ly/BrushbeaterStore