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Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has announced it will permit the United States military to access its airports in coming weeks. This development follows heightening strained relations between the US and nearby Venezuela.

Radar Installation Raises Questions

This statement comes after the installation of a sophisticated radar system at an airport in Tobago. Caribbean authorities state the radar's primary purpose is for fighting local criminal activity, asserting it is not a springboard for offensive actions against another country.

Critics and opposition figures caution, however, that these arrangements could draw Trinidad and Tobago into ex-President Donald Trump's broader efforts against Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro.

Scope of Agreement and Government Explanation

As per a ministry statement, US activities at the airports would be focused on logistics, enabling resupply efforts and standard troop rotations. Officials provided no further details regarding the scope.

The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously praised US operations targeting alleged drug ships in regional waters, actions that have allegedly led to dozens of deaths, among them a number of Trinidadian citizens.

Earlier Statements and Subsequent Revelations

At first, Persad-Bissessar stated a US C-17 aircraft that landed in Tobago was carrying marines to assist with a civilian road construction project. However, when pictures emerged of the defense system, she conceded that no fewer than 100 marines were stationed in the country, accompanied by the powerful radar.

The radar, believed to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is described as air surveillance, defense, and artillery detection 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 follows a prior event in October, when a US naval vessel was stationed in Trinidad's capital, as part of the Trump administration's growing military pressure on Venezuela.

In related developments, US lawmakers have expressed doubts about the lawfulness of the aforementioned maritime strikes and have called for a congressional review.