US warship docks in Trinidad amid regional concerns

Mottley warns regional leaders about “menacing military activity” by the US

The United States Navy destroyer USS Gravely arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, heightening debate across the Caribbean over Washington’s growing military presence in the region. The ship’s arrival comes just days after Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned regional leaders about what she described as “menacing military activity” by the United States.

At a political conference in Bridgetown on Saturday, Mottley called for renewed diplomacy to prevent tensions from escalating. She said the Caribbean must remain a “zone of peace” even as global instability increases. Mottley’s remarks followed Washington’s announcement that it would intensify operations in the Caribbean through the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, along with supporting naval forces. The initiative, part of a counter-narcotics mission, will also see the deployment of more than ten thousand troops throughout the region.

“We have to be concerned when we see large military vessels in our waters,” Mottley said. “This is not a time of pirates. This is 2025 and the Caribbean must remain committed to peace.” She also noted that the region is already dealing with other threats, including Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to impact Jamaica, Haiti, and nearby islands this week.

In Port of Spain, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar downplayed talk of aggression, saying the presence of the USS Gravely is part of planned cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Her government confirmed that the destroyer will remain in port until October 30. Joint exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force will include infantry, maintenance, and medical training.

Persad-Bissessar defended her support for the initiative, arguing that the country’s high crime and drug trafficking rates justify collaboration with US forces. “We are crime-ridden and drug-ridden,” she said. “The idea of a zone of peace does not reflect our reality.” She added that Trinidad and Tobago’s proximity to smuggling routes makes security partnerships essential and pointed to expected benefits such as infrastructure upgrades and humanitarian programs linked to the visit.

The United States Southern Command said the expanded presence will strengthen regional efforts to intercept illegal drugs and weapons. However, human rights groups and some former Caribbean leaders have urged restraint, warning that the build-up risks militarizing regional law enforcement.

Mottley reiterated that disputes in the Caribbean should be resolved through negotiation and international law. She thanked former Jamaican leaders P. J. Patterson and Bruce Golding for supporting CARICOM’s founding principle that the region should remain free from external military influence.

As the USS Gravely continues its visit, the Caribbean remains divided between those who see US cooperation as protection and those who fear it as provocation.

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