Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister has done an about-face, now admitting that U.S. Marines are on the ground in her country after previously denying their presence.
According to AP News, Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed that U.S. forces are working on Tobago airport infrastructure, a revelation made during a time of heightened U.S. military focus in the Caribbean intended to crack down on drug operations and increase leverage against Venezuela.
Persad-Bissessar initially told the public there were no U.S. Marines in the country, but on Thursday, that narrative flipped. She confirmed the Marines' presence specifically at the Tobago airport. Their work involves enhancements to the radar system, the runway, and the surrounding roads.
U.S. Radar Work Raises Regional Questions
The prime minister’s admission has triggered renewed scrutiny of broader American involvement in the region. It remains unknown whether the Marines are upgrading existing radar capabilities or constructing an entirely new system. The ambiguity doesn’t help put to rest questions from local leaders or international observers.
U.S. military engagement in the Caribbean is already described as the most significant buildup in decades. These efforts are officially framed as anti-narcotics operations targeting trafficking hubs across Caribbean waters. But in a region just a stone's throw from Venezuela, others are asking what the true scope of the mission really is.
While acknowledging the Marines’ mission, Persad-Bissessar attempted to put a tidy bow on the situation. “They will help us to improve our surveillance and the intelligence of the radars for the narco-traffickers in our waters and outside our waters,” she said. The claim sounds polished, but not everyone is buying the tidy spin.
High-Level U.S. Visits Add Fuel To Speculation
The prime minister’s reversal came the day after she met with General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and top military advisor to President Trump. That timing has not gone unnoticed. It’s hard to see how one goes from “no Marines” to “yes, they’re upgrading our airport” in the span of 24 hours without a very persuasive conversation in between.
Some officials in Tobago confirmed the arrival of at least one U.S. military aircraft, reportedly for refueling. That detail might’ve slipped under the radar itself—pun intended—if not for the mounting questions over foreign military presence across Caribbean nations.
Earlier this year, Washington requested permission from Grenada to set up temporary radar operations at its main airport. Grenada hasn’t approved or denied the request. Like Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada is uncomfortably close to Venezuelan airspace.
Caribbean Nations Navigate Sensitive Terrain
Speculation is growing that the U.S. doesn’t just want to stop narcotics; it’s positioning itself as a force to pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. It wouldn’t be the first time military assets were used to send a message in that neighborhood.
Persad-Bissessar worked hard to cool those fears. She stated that there has been “no request to use Trinidad and Tobago as a base for any attack on Venezuela” and that the U.S. never brought up Venezuela during discussions. The problem is, with a regional military surge underway, few are accepting such statements at face value. Over in the Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinader chose transparency over tap-dancing. He announced publicly, alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that the U.S. would be granted access to restricted areas at both a military air base and the main airport. No denials, no midweek retractions—just a straight answer.
Regional Ramifications Amid Accelerating Operations
The broader context includes an increasingly aggressive tempo of U.S. military operations in the region. At least 83 people have been killed in U.S.-led strikes since the start of September. While those actions aren’t directly linked to what’s happening in Tobago, they do help explain why citizens are skeptical of the official story.
The Caribbean, with its strategic chokepoints and geopolitical neighbors, is suddenly a stage where old slogans about transparency are being tested. Some governments are trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube after playing catch-up with facts on the ground.
In Trinidad and Tobago’s case, the shift from secrecy to scripted cooperation came quickly—and under watched eyes. Residents and observers alike are asking just how much say smaller nations have when global powers come knocking with both aid and agendas in hand. The prime minister may have tried to keep a politically safe distance from American military goals, but even her own acknowledgment shows the nation is more involved than she originally admitted. Radar isn’t the only thing being tested here; so is credibility.
