2 US military aircraft reportedly touch down in Tobago

One day after US top military officer General Dan Caine arrived in Trinidad and met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, two US military aircraft are believed to have departed from Scarborough Tobago, headed to North America.

A US Airforce Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, appeared on tracking site FlightRadar24 today, reportedly leaving Tobago at 5.53.a.m. this morning and is currently in transit over the United States.But according to online Open Source Intelligence expert @LatAmMilMVMTs who has been closely following the military build-up in the Caribbean this year, the aircraft is one of two of its kind that transited through the Scarborough International Airport (TAB/TTCP) today.

The account told the Express that two C-17’s (RCH660 C-17A 01-0192 and RCH661 C-17A 99-0165) were within the airspace, one of the aircraft tracking on FlightRadar24 when it departed and the other was not tracked at all. Both are believed to have originated from the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Chief Sec probing visit; PM says they were helping with airport

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters before heading into Parliament that the aircraft was assisting with activity taking place at the airport. “They are helping us with something to do at the airport,” she said. She also confirmed that United States Marines were training locally and stressed that the visit was not tied to any regional escalation. “It’s not a military force as such; they are not here on the ground. We are not about to launch any campaign against Venezuela.”The heavy-lift military aircraft, operating as RCH661, departed the ANR Robinson International Airport at 5.53 am and climbed to 32,000 feet before heading north.

Augustine said, in a media report, he was aware that US aircraft had been in Trinidad and Tobago’s airspace in recent weeks due to cooperation with the Defence Force. “I know that they have been in the Trinidad and Tobago airspace for a while, given the collaboration between the central Government and the United States government, but I’m trying to get more details.”Since October, the US military has been present in T&T. From October 26 to 30, the USS Gravely, along with members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, was in the country as part of continued co-operation between the US and T&T, according to the Government. Just this month, the MEU returned for joint training exercises with the T&T Defence Force.

The Chief Secretary added: “Thus far, I know that they did refuel in Tobago, but I’m trying to get more details as to why and what else transpired.”But workers inside the airport compound gave a much different account. They told Guardian Media they believe the C-17 delivered an underground tank needed to complete a gas line that was not installed during the terminal redevelopment. Workers were seen inside a cordoned-off construction area.

ps: Rowley officially opened the airport last year; it is still incomplete.

Dominican Republic allows US to use facilities for anti-drug ops

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader announced yesterday that he has authorised the US government to operate inside restricted areas in the Caribbean country to help in its fight against drug trafficking.For a limited time, the US can refuel aircraft and transport equipment and technical personnel at restricted areas within the San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport, said Abinader, who made the announcement with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at his side.

Hegseth was in Santo Domingo yesterday to meet with the country’s top leaders, including Abinader and Minister of Defence Lt Gen Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre.It is the first major public agreement that the US has struck with a Caribbean nation as it seeks friendly allies to support its attacks against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region and beyond. Since the strikes began in early September, at least 83 people have been killed.

Hegseth said the Dominican Republic was a regional leader willing to take on hard challenges.“That’s why I’m here today. That’s why we decided to come here first,” he said. “The Dominican Republic has stepped up.”Hegseth said the US would respect the Caribbean country’s sovereignty and laws as US service members and aircraft prepare to deploy to the Dominican Republic. He did not provide additional details. - AP

A third US Military aircraft spotted headed to Tobago

Shortly after the Prime Minister’s claim that the country was receiving help from the US with a “roadway” in Tobago, a third US military aircraft was detected overnight, heading from the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico to Scarborough.

The aircraft, a Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, was detected by website FlightTracker24 around midnight descending into the ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago. It is believed to have originated from the US Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Yesterday, at least two other US Marine Corps operated aircraft (US Airforce Boeing C-17A Globemaster III) from the same point were detected leaving the airport and heading to North America.