Trinidad and Tobago will open Caribbean nation’s airports to US military as Venezuela tensions grow

By ANSELM GIBBS PORT-OF-SPAIN Trinidad AP The leadership of Trinidad and Tobago reported Monday that it would allow the U S military to access its airports in coming weeks as tensions build between the United States and Venezuela Related Articles US administrators say Washington has agreed to give Ukraine assurance guarantees in peace talks What to know about the attack on the Hanukkah festival in Australia that killed people In current times in History December Bridge collapses into Ohio River killing people At least dead after gunmen attack Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Australia Boston Weather Strong gusts negative wind chill temperatures coming The announcement comes after the U S military not long ago installed a radar system at the airport in Tobago The Caribbean country s governing body has noted the radar is being used to fight local crime and that the small nation wouldn t be used as a launchpad to attack any other country The U S would use the airports for activity that would be logistical in nature facilitating supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations Trinidad and Tobago s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in a message It did not provide further details Trinidad s prime minister previously has praised ongoing U S strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Only seven miles separate Venezuela from the twin-island Caribbean nation at their closest point It has two main airports Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago Amery Browne an opposition senator and the country s former foreign minister accused the establishment of being deceptive in its announcement Browne noted that Trinidad and Tobago has become complicit facilitators of extrajudicial killings cross-border tension and belligerence There is nothing routine about this It has nothing to do with the usual cooperation and friendly collaborations that we have enjoyed with the USA and all of our neighbors for decades he announced He stated the blanket permission with the U S takes the country a further step down the path of a satellite state and that it embraces a might is right philosophy American strikes began in September and have killed more than people as Washington builds up a fleet of warships near Venezuela including the largest U S aircraft carrier In October an American warship docked in Trinidad s capital Port-of-Spain as the administration of U S President Donald Trump boosts military pressure on Venezuela and President Nicol s Maduro U S lawmakers have questioned the legality of the strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean and lately stated that there would be a congressional review of them