A Target on her back–Trinidad and Tobago in the crosshairs

A Target on her back–Trinidad and Tobago in the crosshairs

Ambassador Curtis A. Ward

(17 December 2025)--No level of obfuscation or denial by prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar changes reality—the government of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has joined the conflict between U.S. president Donald Trump’s military aggression against Venezuela—a regime change objective by removing Nicholás Maduro and replacing him with a Washington-friendly government in Venezuela. A government that would give unfettered access to the country’s vast oil resources and a geopolitical and security ally strategically situated in South America. This is of far greater importance than what T&T has to offer the United States in the long-term.

But what’s the price T&T (the country) and the people could pay for short-term undefined benefits in exchange for the risks to the country’s long-term safety and prosperity? With the installation of a military radar in T&T—not a civilian radar as the prime minister first represented—at no greater vulnerable site than the country’s international airport, the T&T government has set up the country as a military target. It has put T&T’s international civilian airport, lifeblood of the country’s economy, in jeopardy—a target on her back, T&T in the crosshairs.

Military radar system–a military target

The radar system installed by the U.S. military is a radar designed for monitoring aircraft and missiles—not maritime traffic in the Caribbean Sea as originally suggested. It doesn’t target narco-trafficking by small boats. In addition, the radar is integrated into an automated anti-missile response system to destroy any missile fired from Venezuela territory. The radar—a military radar—in close proximity to the international civilian airport does not disguise its purpose—a war asset—and it will be a primary target for Venezuelan missiles and bombers should the Venezuela military respond to U.S. aggression. Degrading and neutralizing the radar system will be strategic for the Venezuelan military in prosecuting a war with the United States—thus a priority target should the conflict escalate militarily.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has placed a military target on the backs of the country and the people. It is a scenario in which more Trinidadian and Tobagonian than American citizens could be killed. Far more damage will be done to T&T’s infrastructure and economy than to that of the United States thousands of miles away.

Long-term implications

It is concerning that, for whatever promise made to the prime minister in her rush to literally compete for the radar installation on T&T territory, there appears to have been no consideration given to the risks to the country and people. Did she and her advisers not understand the implications of her decision? If they did not consider what next, they must be oblivious of the real world—an Alice in Wonderland mentality—lacking knowledge or understanding of the geopolitical and security implications for the country. Perhaps the decision-making of the prime minister merely reflects an ideological adherence to the ‘America First’ foreign policy of the Trump administration. Perhaps she was given an ultimatum

Having now placed the country and people of Trinidad and Tobago in the crosshairs of a possible missile response by Venezuela should the U.S. carry out military strikes against the country, the plan must include installation of the ‘iron dome’ on T&T territory—as done for Israel—or enhanced protection against Venezuelan missiles by U.S. warships deployed and equipped with anti-missile technology. Neither military asset provides 100% guarantee that no Venezuela missile will land on T&T soil.

A military collaborator on extrajudicial killings

The actions of the government of prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar are not merely confirming traditionally friendly relations with the U.S. and its partnership on mutual security and economic interests. TT has escalated to a military ally against Venezuela and a collaborator in the policy of regime change in Venezuela. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has endorsed and is complicit in extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea—being described by legal experts as the commission of war crimes in the region. She has abandoned the concept promoted by the country’s founding prime minister Dr. Eric Williams and subsequent T&T and Caribbean leaders of maintaining the Caribbean as a “Zone of Peace”—obliterated a decades-old policy embraced across the entire region. She has shattered what little unity existed in CARICOM, and she has shown total disrespect for her regional colleagues. She acted with impunity and without opprobrium.

The silence of Caribbean political leaders

Listen as intensely as you may, there is not even a discernible whisper of opposition or criticism from most other Caribbean leaders. Many shield their silence as non-interference in TT’s internal affairs. The truth is some cower in fear of retaliation by the Trump administration. They lack courage. While there is no need for confrontational rhetoric, some merely wish to maintain their travel privileges to the United States—such an insignificant price for betrayal of their country’s sovereignty and dignity.

In the meantime, it is left to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago—at home and in the diaspora—to raise the alarm against their own government and hopefully reverse the path taken which leads to military conflict with Venezuela. But it may already be too late, given the advances made so far, the tipping point may have been breached. But it is not too late for Caribbean leaders to reclaim their voices and integrity by advocating dialogue and peace. They should at least assure the people of Trinidad and Tobago that their Caribbean brothers and sisters in the region and the diaspora are opposed to war against Venezuela and against Trinidad and Tobago’s role in it. Even a whisper might prove to be a catalyst for the people of Trinidad and Tobago to have their opposition to the war and their country’s participation resonate in Washington where decisions are made.

U.S. bi-partisan political opposition intensifies

Congressional opposition grows increasingly stronger to the illegal actions of the Trump administration—extrajudicial killings of alleged narco-traffickers. This is an opportunity for governments of the region and the people of Trinidad and Tobago to express their opposition to a military resolution of the internal problems of Venezuela. Military intervention will not make the situation better but will make it worse for the people of Venezuela. It will destabilize the entire region. Furthermore, avoidance of military conflict will release the people of TT of the burden of the certain tragedy they are otherwise likely to face.

War is not the answer. War is not the only option. And war is not inevitable. Perhaps good sense will prevail and there will be pullback from the brink of military conflict.

Updates

(Just before publication of this analysis, the U.S. military announced—on 12/16-2025—three new US strikes killing eight more people bringing the total killed to now approaching 100. This followed the seizure of a tanker loaded with Venezuela oil after it  departed a Venezuela port. In addition, President Trump announced he had closed Venezuela airspace to commercial aviation. As the U.S. draws closer to war with Venezuela, the Trump administration announced a complete blockade of oil tankers carrying Venezuela oil leaving the country’s ports. It raises the question—Will the U.S. military seize or sink any tanker leaving Venezuela ports? That includes Chinese and Russian flagged ships, thus broadening the possibility of a violent confrontation.

©2025 — The Ward Post / Curtis A. Ward