T&T – US Paid $3 Millon A Day to Operate Radar System

2026-03-02 - 13:05

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has revealed that the United States is spending approximately US$3 million per day to operate a military radar system located in Tobago, underscoring the scale of ongoing security cooperation between Washington and Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking to reporters outside the Red House in Port of Spain, the prime minister said the financial burden for operating the advanced surveillance system is being borne entirely by the United States, not the Trinidad and Tobago government. “You know they are paying US$3 million a day for that radar? Not us. They are paying that,” Persad-Bissessar said. She added that U.S. military personnel remain stationed at the facility to ensure the radar’s security and uninterrupted operation, including protection against potential sabotage. Agreement Inherited From Previous Administration Persad-Bissessar acknowledged public concern regarding the presence of U.S. military personnel but clarified that the arrangement stems from a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed under the previous administration led by former prime minister Keith Rowley. She noted that troop numbers fluctuate regularly due to rotations, making it difficult to provide an exact figure at any given time. While some personnel are expected to depart in phases, discussions are ongoing regarding a possible draw-down beginning in March. The prime minister emphasized that the foreign presence has never involved what she described as “a massive amount” of troops and reiterated that U.S. personnel do not possess arrest powers over Trinidad and Tobago citizens. Security Cooperation and Crime Reduction Persad-Bissessar linked the radar system and intelligence-sharing arrangements to measurable improvements in national security. According to information provided by law-enforcement officials, homicide levels have reportedly declined by 42 percent, representing approximately 257 fewer murders, while drug interdiction efforts have disrupted trafficking networks and driven up narcotics prices. She said collaboration between U.S. forces and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has supported several recent operations, including major drug seizures, highlighting the role of regional intelligence cooperation in addressing transnational crime across Caribbean maritime routes. Sovereignty and Future Talks Addressing speculation ahead of a planned security meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Persad-Bissessar declined to predict whether additional American personnel could be deployed. “Maybe, maybe not. I cannot preempt what will happen at that meeting,” she said. Rejecting claims that the country is overly dependent on external powers, the prime minister stressed that Trinidad and Tobago retains full sovereignty over any agreements, noting that Cabinet and national stakeholders will ultimately determine whether future proposals are accepted or rejected. “We are not at the mercy of anyone except the good Lord,” she said. “And I am at the mercy of the people of T&T.”