US Embassy: US Military ties run deep in Trinidad and Tobago

ON THE eve of the arrival of US military personnel for a week-long "training mission" with the TT Defence Force and growing concerns that it would fan flames of tension with neighbouring Venezuela, the US Embassy has sought to quell fears.In a statement on November 15, the embassy highlighted the deep ties between the US military and the TTDF, "which has resulted in stronger security cooperation benefiting both nations and the region."

This is the second visit by members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, who are part of a contingent deployed in the Caribbean Sea since late August to combat suspected narco-traffickers, in training missions with the TTDF.TT's Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration has expressed resounding support for the US military action in the Caribbean, despite Caricom's opposing view of maintaining a "zone of peace" in the region.

Persad-Bissessar and her cabinet have refuted the terminology, saying TT is disproportionately affected by the illegal drugs and weapons trade from Venezuela due to geographical proximity.In July 2024, USSouthcom, through the embassy, donated 45 military radios, known as Harris radios, valued at US$653,000 to the TTDF.From April 27 to May 15, 2024, the Delaware National Guard (DENG) and the TTDF engaged in joint aviation interoperability training, which included mutual sharing of expertise and consisted of planning and executing air operations and enhancing maintenance practices. The training involved the use of two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters along with approximately 20 air crew and support personnel. It took place throughout TT in both urban and rural areas.

For those unaware of the 1940 agreement between Britain and the United States...a 99-year lease in T&T. It expires in 2040.

Here are the facts:

The 1940 Destroyers for Bases Agreement: A Strategic Wartime Exchange

As World War II raged across Europe in 1940, the United States and Great Britain signed a historic treaty that would reshape the Atlantic's strategic defence landscape. Known as the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, this agreement represented both countries' growing cooperation long before America's formal entry into the war.

The Agreement

On September 2, 1940, the two powers formalized an understanding that merged necessity with strategic foresight. Britain, facing the devastating threat of Nazi naval power and struggling to protect its convoys, accepted fifty U.S. Navy destroyers, aging but still valuable assets, in exchange for granting the United States long-term access to military bases within its colonial territories.

The Exchange

The deal was simple but historic: the United States transferred 50 older destroyers to strengthen Britain's naval defences in exchange for 99-year, rent-free leases on American naval and air bases throughout its Western Hemisphere territories. These locations included strategic points such as Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, and, crucially, Trinidad.

Trinidad’s Role

The agreement made Trinidad one of the most strategically important sites. Its geography, located near vital shipping lanes and the entrance to the Gulf of Paria, made it an ideal location for defending the Caribbean and Atlantic supply routes.

Two key areas were designated for American use:

Chaguaramas, located on the northwest peninsula, became the site of a major naval base. The Chaguaramas base was also the site of one of the OMEGA navigation stations, which allowed Polaris submarines to circumnavigate the globe before satellites took over and it was also the site of one of the radar tracking stations used for the Apollo missions

Base closure: The Chaguaramas base was officially closed in 1977, and US troops departed in 1967. The land lease was given up in 1988 with the right to be reoccupied.

Wallerfield, in central Trinidad, was developed as an airfield to support regional operations. Other smaller bases were located at Carlsen Field, Couva, Cedros, and there was an emergency landing strip at Toco

These facilities provided the U.S. with invaluable forward positions for anti-submarine patrols, convoy support, and reconnaissance missions during the war years.

Strategic Significance

The 99-year leases ensured long-term American influence and presence in the Caribbean, securing a chain of bases that were critical not only during WWII but also during the early Cold War. For Britain, the agreement helped sustain its naval capability during one of the most perilous times in its history.

Sarge

References

Imperial War College and Pentagon and US Naval archives