Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has urged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the governing United National Congress (UNC) to take note of the outcome of the November 3 United States midterm elections, arguing that the results carry lessons for the country’s political direction and foreign policy.
In a statement following the elections, Rowley said the Democratic Party’s victories and the resulting shift in control of Congress should prompt citizens to reflect on the UNC administration’s relationship with US President Donald Trump and his government.
- Advertisement -
“The rampage in America has been decisively addressed by the American people,” Rowley declared.
He criticised what he described as the UNC’s close alignment with the Trump administration, recalling that the party had criticised Democratic leaders while in Opposition but expressed support for Trump’s policies after taking office.
Rowley also questioned the Government’s recent positions on international matters, particularly its vote against a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the US economic embargo on Cuba and its decision to abstain on a resolution concerning the International Criminal Court.
He argued that these decisions represented a departure from Trinidad and Tobago’s established foreign policy principles and warned against allowing relations with a particular US administration to influence the country’s independent diplomatic positions.
“What should be clear to us here is that we did not need to sell our souls to anyone in Washington to have friends in authority there,” Rowley said, defending the approach taken by his former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.
He maintained that Trinidad and Tobago could maintain productive relationships with international partners while preserving its sovereignty and principles, concluding with the phrase, “Friends to all and vassals of none.”
However, Government Senator Phillip Alexander offered a different interpretation of the American results, arguing that midterm elections have historically presented challenges for the party holding the presidency. He said US voters frequently use the elections to express dissatisfaction with the governing party and cautioned against interpreting the outcome as a direct indication of political fortunes in Trinidad and Tobago.
The US midterm elections took place on November 3, with Democrats making significant gains in Congress. The results have renewed debate in Trinidad and Tobago over the Government’s diplomatic relationship with Washington and the implications of its foreign policy decisions.
Rowley’s remarks add to growing political discussion about whether the country’s international relationships should be shaped by the policies of an individual US administration or guided by longer-term national interests.
