United States Armed Forces. Photo: US Department of Defense.
By Ricardo Vaz – Dec 16, 2024
US officials praised the extension of agreements that “facilitate interoperability” between Trinidadian and US armed forces.
Caracas, December 16, 2024 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The United States and Trinidad and Tobago governments have renewed several military cooperation accords.
On December 10, the US embassy in Trinidad disclosed the signing of five agreements between the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Keith Rowley government. Among them was the renewal and amendment of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which “facilitates interoperability” between the two countries’ armed forces, according to US officials.
The two nations likewise extended the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Technical Assistance Field Team (CBSI-TAFT), and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
US ambassador to the country Candace Bond stated that the deals provided “unprecedented and unequaled opportunities for defense cooperation.” US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) head Admiral Alvin Holsey, also present in the ceremony, affirmed that the agreements “deepen strategic collaboration on a host of issues.”
The extended security deals sparked controversy in the Caribbean country after local newspaper Newsday claimed that the revamped SOFA would allow Washington to deploy troops “in the event of a conflict in Venezuela,” though it would still require permission from Trinidadian authorities.
Washington and Port of Spain originally signed SOFA in 2007. The agreement was renewed in 2013 and was set to expire in January 2025. The amended version, which has not been publicly disclosed, will remain in place indefinitely unless one of the countries pulls out. The prior SOFA document established several benefits for DoD operations and personnel in the Caribbean nation, including immunity from prosecution and access to the country’s radio spectrum.
Newsday stated that the Trinidad and Tobago government approved the amended deal earlier in the month and that it allows the US to request troop deployments in case of natural disasters or a “conflict” in neighboring Venezuela. Nevertheless, the outlet clarified that it had not seen the agreement.
The newspaper’s story drew a fierce rebuttal from Prime Minister Rowley, who denied that his country would allow the United States to install troops to target Venezuela. In a press conference on Thursday, Rowley labeled the Newsday claims as “irresponsibility of the worst kind.”
“We don’t countenance a breach of peace in the region and we will not facilitate any such move,” the prime minister told reporters. “It is so far from what Trinidad and Tobago represents and has represented in recent years.”
Rowley blasted Newsday’s “wrong interpretation” of the accords with Washington, reiterating that the country would not become a “platform for foreign troops” and recalling past efforts by his government and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to mediate in the face of US-led regime-change efforts against Venezuela.
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Nevertheless, when pressed, the prime minister refused to discuss SOFA details, stressing that he would not offer a “tutorial” to journalists. He concluded the media briefing by adding that Port of Spain maintains good relations with both Washington and Caracas, and that the publication aims to undermine ties and recent energy deals with Venezuela.
In recent months, Venezuela and Trinidad have advanced on two offshore natural gas exploration projects, involving multinational corporations Shell and BP, respectively. The Rowley government lobbied the US Treasury Department, which has levied wide-reaching sanctions against Venezuela, to allow for negotiations.
Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA will not hold stakes in either venture, while Trinidad’s National Gas Company aims to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export.
At the time of writing, the Venezuelan government has not commented on the Trinidad SOFA renewal nor the US troop deployment controversy. Journalists from state-owned media channels reported on Rowley’s press conference and denials of the Newsday story.
Caracas has repeatedly condemned heightened US-led military activity in the Caribbean region, including regular joint drills with CARICOM nations.
Venezuela recently issued a warning after Guyanese President Irfaan Ali met with the SOUTHCOM leadership in Florida. The Maduro administration has denounced alleged plans to install US military bases in Guyana.
Venezuela and its eastern neighbor have a two-century-old unsolved border dispute over the Essequibo Strip. The 160,000 square-kilometer territory is under Guyana’s control, though Caracas maintains its sovereignty claim and held a referendum in December 2023 to reaffirm its position.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently holding proceedings on the Essequibo dispute. Both governments have presented and documented their positions, although Caracas ejects the ICJ’s jurisdiction and insists that the controversy be resolved bilaterally.
Ricardo Vaz
Ricardo Vaz is a political analyst and editor at Venezuelanalysis.com
