U.S. Guided Missile Destroyer Docks in Trinidad Amid Venezuela Tensions

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago — A U.S. guided missile destroyer, the USS Gravely, docked in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital on Sunday as part of a military campaign against neighboring Venezuela. The ship will conduct joint exercises with the Caribbean nation, staying until Thursday.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz stated that the exercises aim to address shared threats such as transnational crime. The training will also include humanitarian missions and security efforts.

In contrast, Venezuela’s government has condemned the military exercises, labeling them a serious threat and a hostile provocation. The Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the U.S. presence in nearby waters.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar supports the U.S. military activities, aligning with the Trump administration’s actions against drug trafficking in the region. The arrival of the USS Gravely coincides with increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, targeting drug smuggling operations linked to Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro criticized the U.S. military’s actions, claiming they are part of a strategy to create “a new eternal war.” He has been accused by the Trump administration of leading a drug cartel.

In recent months, the Trump administration has ordered numerous strikes in the Caribbean aimed at disrupting drug cartels. Earlier in October, the CIA was also given the green light to conduct covert operations within Venezuela.