Trinidad and Tobago to realign foreign policy amid Caricom rift

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced a major shift in Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign policy, citing a breakdown in trust with the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The announcement, reported across several national newspapers including the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Daily Express, and Newsday, follows mounting tensions over regional security, divergent positions on Venezuela, and U.S. military activity in the Southern Caribbean. Speaking to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Persad-Bissessar stated, “These changes are necessary for improving our economic and physical security,” adding that Caricom is no longer viewed as a “reliable partner.” She stressed that while withdrawal from Caricom is not being considered, her administration will seek new international alliances focused on trade, investment, and security. The Prime Minister’s remarks came after Trinidad and Tobago reserved its position on an October 18 Caricom communiqué reaffirming the Caribbean as a “Zone of Peace”—a stance that set it apart from other member states. According to the Daily Express, Persad-Bissessar defended her position, arguing that Trinidad and Tobago faces unique threats from drug trafficking, gang violence, and gunrunning. “Trinidad and Tobago is definitely not a zone of peace,” she said, noting that other island nations do not experience the same level of violent crime. Persad-Bissessar’s support for the United States’ deployment of military assets—including warships, fighter jets, bombers, and the USS Gerald Ford—has further strained regional relations. As reported by Newsday, a U.S. warship docked in Port of Spain on October 26 for joint military exercises with Trinidad and Tobago forces. The Prime Minister has backed the U.S. initiative as a necessary measure against narco-terrorism and human trafficking. The Venezuelan government, which has denounced the U.S. military presence as a push for regime change, responded by suspending all energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago. On October 28, Venezuela’s parliament moved to declare Persad-Bissessar “persona non grata”, a move she dismissed as inconsequential. She also stated that Trinidad and Tobago does not depend on Venezuelan gas, citing alternative projects in both energy and non-energy sectors. The Prime Minister’s criticism of Caricom stems in part from what she described as the bloc’s decision to “choose Venezuela over Trinidad.” This sentiment was echoed in her interview on the Crime Watch programme, where she lamented the lack of regional support for Trinidad and Tobago’s endorsement of U.S. naval assets. Caricom itself remains divided over Venezuela. In August, several member states, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, participated in an ALBA-TCP summit expressing strong support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who they said was facing persecution from the United States. Despite the diplomatic rift, Persad-Bissessar reiterated her commitment to humanitarian efforts within the region. All three newspapers noted her expression of solidarity with Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island on October 28. “Our prayers are with the people of Jamaica at this time,” she said, confirming that Trinidad and Tobago was coordinating relief supplies. Trinidad and Tobago remains a founding member of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), with regional trade dominated by exports of petroleum products, petrochemicals, iron and steel, and food and beverages. However, the Prime Minister’s remarks signal a potential shift in the country’s long-standing regional engagement, as it seeks new global partnerships amid evolving geopolitical challenges.