Trinidad and Tobago has been named as part of a U.S.-led coalition of Caribbean and Latin American nations working to stem the flow of narcotics into the United States. The announcement came from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on August 26.
Rubio disclosed that the U.S. Navy has deployed a fleet of warships to the southern Caribbean to dismantle the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuela-based criminal network Washington accuses of orchestrating much of the drug trafficking into American cities.
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“For the first time in modern history, the U.S. is on the offensive against organized cartels pumping poisons into our communities,” Rubio said. “We’re seeing unprecedented international cooperation—countries like Ecuador, Paraguay, Guyana, Trinidad, and now Argentina have joined efforts or expressed their support. Together, we are building a coalition to confront this scourge on the international stage.”
Persad-Bissessar: “We Will Accept Any Help”
Responding to Newsday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s involvement, emphasizing her government’s determination to restore public safety.
“We will work with anyone to fight the scourge of drug, arms, and human trafficking,” she said via WhatsApp. “We have had more than 10,000 murders in the last 25 years. Our country has been drowning in blood. I will accept any help that is available to make our communities safe again.”
Her comments came just days after U.S. Vice President JD Vance unfavorably compared Trinidad and Tobago’s crime rate to that of Washington, D.C., sparking fresh debate over security and regional stability.
Persad-Bissessar also recently stated that Port of Spain would grant the U.S. unrestricted access to Trinidad and Tobago’s territory should Venezuela launch an attack against Guyana, underscoring the deepening security ties between the twin-island nation and Washington.
Guyana, Colombia Deepen Defense Ties
On August 26, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) signed a memorandum of understanding with Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense to strengthen aerial surveillance and regional security.
In a statement, the GDF said the deal focuses on monitoring airspace to counter illicit trafficking while boosting situational awareness. Brigadier Omar Khan, Guyana’s Chief of Defence Staff, described the partnership as “an important step in advancing Guyana’s defense agenda,” noting it would enhance sovereignty protection and contribute to wider Caribbean security.
U.S. Deployment Intensifies
According to the Miami Herald, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie and the nuclear-powered submarine USS Newport News are scheduled to arrive in the Caribbean by early next week. They will join an existing deployment of amphibious ships—the San Antonio, Iwo Jima, and Fort Lauderdale—which collectively carry about 4,500 personnel, including a Marine expeditionary unit of 2,200 troops trained for rapid response missions.
President Trump vowed to “deploy the full strength of the U.S. military against narco-traffickers in the Southern Caribbean,” while Rubio accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of running a drug trafficking syndicate. The U.S. has offered a US$50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
In response, Maduro pledged to mobilize 4.5 million civilian militiamen across Venezuela—a call echoed by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who urged citizens to enlist in defense of the Bolivarian republic.
Attempts to reach former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and former Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Dr. Amery Browne for comment were unsuccessful up to press time.
