Trinidad and Tobago officials are continuing to talk up forthcoming U.S. military exercises on the islands. Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers said on Nov. 14 that members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force will take part in joint training exercises with the United States 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Nov. 16–21, 2025, reported the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Sobers said the activity forms part of Trinidad and Tobago’s long-standing security partnership with the United States through U.S. Southern Command. He linked the exercises to the country’s ongoing struggle with gun-related crime and gang violence, saying the government remains committed to restoring order and ensuring security personnel are properly trained and equipped.
But the political opposition is questioning the government’s plans. Former national security minister Marvin Gonzales said that while the exercises form part of a tradition of co-operation between the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago in law enforcement, they should be considered against the backdrop of military tension in the region. He also accused the government of withholding critical information, which he said continued to stir panic and unease among the public.
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne warned that Trinidad and Tobago risks becoming “a willing pawn in a military project that targets regime change.” Browne said: “There will always be the need for training for uniformed services within Caricom, and we would always welcome coordination and collaboration within the region and in association with external forces, including for the improvement of drug interdiction and successful lawful actions to address the major challenges of our times.” But he accused the government of underestimating the public’s intelligence and ignoring the wider geopolitical landscape.
He said citizens are “observing the deployment of the largest aircraft carrier ever built and so many other naval assets in a massive armada that is designed to engage in warfare against nuclear superpowers,” yet the government expects people to believe the assets are here “to shoot alleged drug pirogues, to paint schools in T&T, and conduct periodic training exercises.”
