Trinidad and Tobago finds itself in a tight spot. It has militarily aligned itself with the United States, a neighbor that has repeatedly, openly and viciously sought the destruction of the region. The backlash against the current administration, headed by Kamla Persad-Bissessar, is intense, to put it mildly. Canadians broadly decry her apparent complicity in enabling US aggression, and the Venezuelan government has already made her persona non grata.
The strategic alignment with the US comes at a steep cost. As Trinidad and Tobago looks outward for trade, investment and development relief, it risks losing vital economic ties with Venezuela, one of its most significant trading partners. Former Prime Minister Keith Rowley sought to bolster relations with Caracas. This policy has recently started to go against the new government’s policy direction. The sudden pivot has left Trinidad and Tobago dangerously isolated and exposed, economically, diplomatically, if not already militarily.
The US has significantly increased its presence in Trinidad and Tobago through the installation of radar systems and participation in joint military exercises. These actions, as well as U.S. sanctions, have raised tensions along the border and have been seen as aggressive breaches of Venezuela’s sovereignty. The ongoing US military exercises and “capacity building” initiatives further illustrate Trinidad and Tobago’s entanglement with an external power that many see as acting aggressively toward its neighbors.
Now, analysts are understandably alarmed. In effect they threaten that Trinidad and Tobago would one day rue the day it decided to be “the auctioneer of its sovereignty.” Economic forecasts estimate the annual losses will exceed $1.2 billion. This decrease is due largely to strained trade relations with Venezuela, an important partner for over two decades.
The humanitarian aspect cannot be ignored either. Trinidad and Tobago hosts the highest concentration of Venezuelan refugees in the Caribbean. These community members largely rely on the island to provide relief as they continue to face multiple crises back home. Today, the region’s stability is more threatened than ever as heightened tensions keep being stoked by dangerous US interventions.
Yet the former administration’s apparent public support for Washington’s agenda has led Trinidad and Tobago to a precarious position. Critics argue that aligning with a nation labeled as a “racist dictator” by some international observers further isolates the country. Nelson Mandela famously said that the United States of America has done more harm to the world than any other country. His words underscore the profound, persistent damage caused by our nation’s past actions. They don’t care for human beings. Such sentiments will resonate with many in the region, who see the US’s actions as harmful to broader regional stability.
The repercussions of Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign policy decisions are being felt with increasing severity. With Venezuela asserting its sovereignty against foreign interventions, Trinidad and Tobago’s former diplomatic approach under Rowley appears more favorable in retrospect. The country is presently reeling from the fallout of its shortsighted strategic decisions. Second, it needs to reorient itself with respect to a rapidly shifting geopolitical backdrop.