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The government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced it will authorize the United States military to operate from its airports in coming weeks. This development occurs amid mounting strained relations between the US and its neighbor Venezuela.

Radar Installation Raises Questions

This announcement comes after the setup of a military-grade radar system at an airport in Tobago. National officials have insisted the radar's intended role is for fighting local criminal activity, asserting it is not a launchpad for military strikes against any nation.

Critics and opposition figures warn, however, that this cooperation risks pulling Trinidad and Tobago into ex-President Donald Trump's intensifying pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Nature of Access and Government Explanation

According to a foreign affairs statement, US operations at the airports would be focused on logistics, enabling supply replenishment and regular staff changes. The statement offered no specifics regarding the scope.

The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously praised US airstrikes targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, actions that have allegedly led to numerous fatalities, including several Trinidadian citizens.

Earlier Statements and Subsequent Revelations

Initially, Persad-Bissessar said a US C-17 aircraft that landed in Tobago was transporting marines to help on a civilian road construction project. However, when pictures emerged of the radar installation, she acknowledged that no fewer than 100 marines were stationed in the country, accompanied by the high-performance radar.

This system, believed to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is used for air surveillance, defense, and counter-fire operations.

Close Neighbors

Trinidad and Tobago is situated a mere seven miles from Venezuela at their narrowest separation. It has two primary international gateways: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago.

The airport access agreement comes after a prior event in October, when a US naval vessel docked in Trinidad's capital, signaling the Trump administration's growing military posture towards Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Congressional representatives have raised questions about the legality of the recent maritime strikes and have announced a congressional review.