The start of 2026 has been marked by a geopolitical shock following the reported removal and imprisonment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the Trump administration on US soil. The unprecedented move has drawn international criticism and raised serious questions about violations of international law. While Western governments struggle to craft an official response, Caribbean nations now find themselves in a position of political anxiety, uncertainty, and regional tension.
At the center of the controversy is Trinidad and Tobago, whose Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has openly aligned herself with former US President Donald Trump. According to Dr Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez, senior lecturer at the Institute of International Relations at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago has “openly endorsed US actions under the pretext of combating transnational crime.”
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This alignment has taken tangible form through increased military cooperation. On November 28, a US-owned advanced radar system known as G/ATOR (Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar) was installed in a coastal area of Tobago. The New York Times described the equipment as a “state-of-the-art mobile long-range sensor” valued at tens of millions of dollars. Alongside the radar deployment, US military aircraft and personnel arrived on the island, located just seven miles from Venezuela’s coastline.
Since September, the United States has conducted at least 21 airstrikes targeting alleged drug smugglers across the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, resulting in more than 80 deaths. Reports suggest that several of those killed were Trinidadian nationals. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has consistently voiced support for US military operations, including strikes on Venezuelan vessels and increased US presence in the region.
In November, Venezuela accused Trinidad and Tobago of assisting the US in seizing one of its oil tankers. The following month, Port of Spain permitted US military aircraft to transit through its airports, a move the foreign ministry described as purely “logistical.” The prime minister has defended her stance, stating she has “no sympathy for traffickers,” especially as Trinidad and Tobago grapples with rising gang violence and crime. In 2025, the country recorded 624 homicides, ranking it among the most violent in the region.
However, analysts argue the expanding military cooperation laid the groundwork for the recent operation in Venezuela. Dr Laguardia Martinez described Trinidad’s actions as the adoption of a “divergent adversarial stance” within Caricom. Historically, Caricom has maintained a unified foreign policy voice, grounded in multilateralism and the principle of the Caribbean as a “Zone of Peace.”
Political analyst Peter Wickham, director of Caribbean Development Research Services, noted that while Trinidad’s facilities may not have been used to stage an attack, intelligence cooperation likely occurred. He revealed that Grenada and Antigua were approached to install similar radar systems but declined.
Wickham believes economic interests are driving the alliance between Persad-Bissessar and Trump. “Trump wants oil, she wants gas,” he said. Trinidad and Tobago has been seeking access to Venezuela’s Dragon Gas Field, estimated to contain 4.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Previous negotiations with Caracas, conducted with US approval, stalled. Wickham suggests Persad-Bissessar now hopes Washington will facilitate access to Venezuela’s gas resources following Maduro’s removal.
Questioning the long-term wisdom of the strategy, Wickham described the prime minister’s approach as impulsive and inconsistent. He also highlighted the legal risks, noting that Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the International Criminal Court, unlike the US. “This matter could very well end up before the ICC,” he warned, citing potential extrajudicial violations.
Venezuela has long maintained strong ties throughout the Caribbean. Through Petrocaribe, launched in 2005 by former president Hugo Chávez, countries accessed oil under favorable financing terms. The initiative was later expanded through ALBA, promoting regional development and south-south cooperation. Venezuela also holds partial ownership in Antigua’s West Indies Oil Company.
Beyond energy ties, Venezuela has provided critical humanitarian assistance. Following Hurricane Maria’s devastation in Dominica and Barbuda, Venezuelan authorities restored communications networks and provided emergency support. “It was essentially the Venezuelan coastguard that was the first responder,” Wickham recalled. Venezuela also contributed to infrastructure projects, including the construction of Saint Vincent’s international airport.
Wickham believes Trump’s administration may attempt to frame these regional ties as “narco-related,” especially given the US indictment’s warning tone toward leaders who maintained relations with Maduro. “It essentially says, ‘We’re coming for you next,’” he said.
Caricom, meanwhile, has refrained from issuing a joint statement condemning US actions. Wickham described the bloc’s approach as “the path of least resistance.” While disappointing, he said it is unsurprising given global power dynamics.
“When leaders like Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron hesitate to condemn this, how can leaders in Bridgetown or Kingston?” Wickham asked. “These are small states with limited leverage.”
He added that fear now looms over upcoming elections in several Caribbean countries. “Leaders are wondering, ‘Do I want to call an election if I could end up on a US hit list?’” Wickham said. “There’s real concern about what tomorrow holds.”
The capture of Maduro has altered the geopolitical landscape of the Caribbean, exposing divisions within Caricom and highlighting the vulnerability of small states caught between powerful global forces. As regional leaders navigate this uncertain terrain, the long-term implications for Caribbean sovereignty and diplomacy remain deeply uncertain.
