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Officials in Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed it will allow the United States military to access its airports in coming weeks. This decision occurs amid mounting strained relations between the US and nearby Venezuela.

Radar Installation Fuels Controversy

This announcement comes after the installation of a military-grade radar system at an airport in Tobago. National authorities have insisted the radar's sole use is for fighting illegal operations, asserting it is not a base for military strikes against foreign states.

Government opponents caution, however, that these arrangements could draw Trinidad and Tobago into ex-President Donald Trump's broader pressure campaign against Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro.

Scope of Agreement and Official Statements

According to a foreign affairs statement, US operations at the airports would be focused on logistics, facilitating resupply efforts and standard troop rotations. Officials offered no specifics on the matter.

The nation's leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has in the past commended US military strikes targeting alleged drug boats in regional waters, actions that have allegedly led to numerous deaths, among them several Trinidadian citizens.

Earlier Statements and Later Disclosures

Initially, Persad-Bissessar said a US C-17 aircraft arriving in Tobago was carrying marines to help on a local road construction project. However, after images surfaced of the radar installation, she admitted that at least 100 marines were present in the country, along with the high-performance radar.

This system, thought to be a long-range AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, is used for air surveillance, air defense, and artillery detection operations.

Close Neighbors

Trinidad and Tobago is situated extremely close from Venezuela at their closest point. The country has two primary airports: Piarco International in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International in Tobago.

This development comes after a previous incident in October, when a US warship was stationed in Trinidad's capital, as part of the Trump administration's increased military pressure against Venezuela.

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