T&T – Rubio Signals U.S. Support for Refinery Reopening, Says PM

2026-02-27 - 14:25

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the United States has pledged support to help Trinidad and Tobago identify a suitable partner to reopen its shuttered oil refinery, following talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Persad-Bissessar made the disclosure after a one-on-one meeting with Rubio on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Saint Kitts and Nevis. She also confirmed that she has been invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to attend a leaders’ summit in Florida on March 7, where further discussions are expected to take place. Energy Cooperation and Refinery Restart According to the Prime Minister, energy cooperation featured prominently in her bilateral discussions with Rubio. She said the U.S. Secretary of State indicated that assistance would be facilitated through the U.S. Department of Energy to support Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to restart the former Petrotrin refinery, which was closed in 2018 under the previous administration. “We are very serious about reopening that refinery,” Persad-Bissessar said, adding that Rubio agreed to connect Trinidad and Tobago with the relevant U.S. energy authorities to help secure “the best partner” for the project. The government recently established a restart committee to assess the feasibility of reactivating operations at the Guaracara refinery. An interim report reviewed by officials concluded that reopening the facility is technically, commercially and financially viable despite years of closure and deterioration. The Ministry of Energy has been directed to evaluate the findings and present options to Cabinet. Persad-Bissessar noted that several entities have already expressed interest, including Nigeria-based energy company Oando, and that additional discussions are ongoing. Regional Security and Venezuela The Prime Minister said talks with Rubio also covered Haiti, Cuba, and engagement with Venezuela. She indicated that more details on those matters would be discussed during her meeting with President Trump. Trinidad and Tobago previously secured a licence from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) permitting negotiations related to Venezuela’s offshore Dragon gas field, an arrangement necessary because of U.S. sanctions. However, recent geopolitical shifts, including the U.S. military’s removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, have raised questions about the future of regional energy cooperation. Persad-Bissessar emphasized that strengthening ties with Washington remains a priority, describing her meeting with Rubio as “great” and underscoring the importance of maintaining a strong bilateral partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared security goals. Security Cooperation and U.S. Military Operations Rubio later posted on X that discussions with the Prime Minister focused on making the partnership “even stronger” to improve prosperity and safety. He praised Trinidad and Tobago’s support for U.S. military operations in the South Caribbean Sea aimed at combating drug trafficking. In response, Persad-Bissessar reaffirmed her government’s backing of U.S. efforts to counter transnational crime, noting that enhanced cooperation has coincided with a reduction in the country’s murder rate. Addressing concerns about U.S. kinetic strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in regional waters, she said her position, based on legal advice, is that the actions do not constitute extrajudicial killings. She added that there is no confirmed evidence that Trinidadian nationals were among those killed in recent operations. “It is not an easy time for any of us in the region,” the Prime Minister said, pointing to shifting global geopolitics. “We cannot keep doing things the same old way and expect change.” The upcoming summit in Florida is expected to further define the trajectory of U.S.–Caribbean cooperation on energy security, crime prevention and regional stability.