A U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer arrived in the capital of Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 26 to take part in a joint military exercise amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gravely will remain in the twin-island nation until Oct. 30, while the U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit conducts a joint exercise with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz said on Oct. 24 that the two nations are working together to tackle “shared threats like transnational crime” and build resilience.

“The partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago exemplifies regional strength through collaboration,” she stated. “Our cooperation ensures greater safety and stability across the Caribbean region.”

Counter-Narcotics Operations

This comes just a day after the Pentagon announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to the Southern Command area of responsibility—which encompasses Central America, South America, and the Caribbean—in support of counter-narcotics operations in the region.

Venezuela’s contested socialist government has warned that the joint exercises between Trinidad and the United States pose a “serious threat” to stability in the Caribbean region, according to a statement issued by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on Oct. 26.

Venezuela accused Trinidad of engaging in a “military provocation” in coordination with the CIA and alleged that a false flag attack was underway in the waters between Trinidad and Venezuela.

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