Trinidad and Tobago‘s Shift Towards the U.S. and its Consequences
Trinidad and Tobago has undergone a significant foreign policy shift, strengthening its alliance with the United States, a move that has strained relations with Venezuela and impacted crucial energy projects. This change, solidified with the arrival of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in May, represents a departure from the historically cautious neutrality the nation maintained in regional geopolitics.
Previously, Trinidad and Tobago had acted as a potential bridge between Washington and Caracas, offering a space for mediation. However, support for U.S. maritime actions, including military exercises conducted a few kilometers off the Venezuelan coast, has effectively ended this role, according to analyst Oner.
The shift is largely driven by internal security concerns, specifically the fight against racketeering. Persad-Bissessar aims to project a “tough hand with security” in response to widespread citizen concern over crime,as noted by robert Wood,deputy director of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for the region. The Prime minister has stated that countries like Trinidad and Tobago “do not have the financial or military resources to confront the drug cartels.” This perceived need for external support led to explicit backing of U.S. anti-drug operations, including praise for one operation that resulted in 11 fatalities.
This alignment with the U.S. has had immediate repercussions. Relations with Venezuela are currently at a low point, characterized by what has been described as “unprecedented confrontation” from the Maduro government. Beyond the diplomatic fallout, the change in policy has stalled years of negotiations regarding joint gas projects, which are vital to addressing Trinidad and Tobago’s energy shortage.
The development of the Dragon field, containing billions of cubic feet of gas, had been hindered by U.S. sanctions. Though, in late September, Washington renewed the license for its development, but with the condition that the project does not “significantly benefit” the Maduro regime, highlighting the use of resource control as a geopolitical tool.
Furthermore,the new direction in Port of Spain has meant a reprioritization away from Caribbean cooperation through Caricom,previously a cornerstone of Trinidad and tobago’s foreign policy. The consequences of abandoning its neutral stance are now being felt, both symbolically and practically, as the island nation navigates the challenges of its strengthened alliance with the United States.
