Trinidad Prime Minister Escalates CARICOM Feud Over U.S. Military Alignment

Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ignited a fierce dispute within CARICOM by openly aligning with U.S. military actions and demanding the exit of CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett.

“Tensions around Venezuela have reached a new threshold, revealing deep diplomatic fractures in the Caribbean and in South America”

- Rezo Nòdwès

Persad-Bissessar dismissed the "zone of peace" principle as "zone of peace fakery," accusing CARICOM of choosing to "support the Maduro narco-government."

- Rezo Nòdwès

Trinidad authorized U.S. military use of its airports and installed American radar systems, positioning itself as a regional security partner of Washington.

The prime minister reminded leaders that Trinidad pays around 22% of CARICOM's annual budget, approximately $20 million.

The dispute triggered sharp reactions from other CARICOM members, with Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne calling the group a "reliable partner."

Former Prime Minister Keith Rowley accused Persad-Bissessar of turning the country into a "vassal state."

The rift deepened as Antigua and Barbuda responded with a boycott call from a senior official.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne emphasized the importance of intraregional trade and security cooperation.

Associated Press

Trade with CARICOM generated more than $1.1 billion in 2024 for Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana supported the Trump administration's escalation against Caracas.

The U.S. imposed partial travel bans on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, measures that were ultimately suspended.

Persad-Bissessar framed the U.S. as our greatest ally and warned that CARICOM's disdain for Washington has consequences.

The prime minister's pro-U.S. stance provoked intense domestic criticism.

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El Nuevo Herald

Former Prime Minister Keith Rowley warned that the policy weakens the Constitution and erodes national sovereignty.

He accused Persad-Bissessar of receiving secret instructions from another country.

The dispute exposed fractures within CARICOM, a 15-member bloc.

The prime minister insisted her government does not support dictatorship nor drug trafficking.

She criticized what she called a fabricated narrative about CARICOM’s peace zone.