Who Are the United States' Allies in the Caribbean That Will Assist in Its War Against Venezuela?

A demonstration supporting Maduro against the United States in Venezuela (AFP).

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated to their peak with U.S. President Donald Trump declaring the Venezuelan government a foreign terrorist organization. There is a belief that war is approaching amid the exceptional U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea. In this context, there is a search for potential U.S. allies in the region whom Washington might call upon to carry out military operations against the Caracas regime.

Accordingly, The Washington Post identified Caribbean countries close to the United States:

Trinidad and Tobago

No Caribbean leader has shown more support for the military campaign announced by the Trump administration than Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Her country, located only seven miles from the Venezuelan mainland, hosts U.S. Marine forces, allowed the United States to install a radar system at one of its airports, and participated in joint military exercises with U.S. forces.

Persad-Bissessar said after the first announced airstrike in September, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people off the coast of Trinidad: "I feel no sympathy for the smugglers. The U.S. military should kill them all violently."

The Trinidad Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would allow U.S. military aircraft to transit through the country’s airports "in the coming weeks" for "logistical purposes, to facilitate refueling and periodic personnel rotation."

The radar reportedly installed by the U.S. Marines, the G/ATOR system, is used "to detect, track, and target the most advanced aerial threats in the world," according to its manufacturer, Northrop Grumman. These threats include cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, drones, and manned aircraft.

Dominican Republic

Dominican President Luis Abinader authorized the U.S. military to operate within restricted areas at San Isidro Air Base and Las Americas International Airport as part of his war against Venezuelan drug traffickers. At a joint press conference with Defense Minister Peter Higgsmith in the Dominican capital last month, he said U.S. military aircraft might refuel and transport equipment and technical personnel.

Higgsmith said this deployment would be "limited and temporary, with full respect for your sovereignty and laws."

Abinader said the Dominican Republic has a "special relationship" with the United States, its most important strategic partner, including cooperation in combating drug trafficking.

He added: "Dominicans, our country faces a real threat, a threat that recognizes no borders, does not distinguish flags, destroys families, and has for decades tried to use our lands as a corridor. This threat is drug trafficking, and no country should face it without allies, nor can it."

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, not an independent country. It was used throughout the Cold War to support U.S. military operations in Central and South America.

The Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, located at the eastern end of the main island, was once one of the largest naval facilities in the world. However, it was closed in 2004 after the Navy ceased conducting amphibious, airborne, and ground landing exercises on the nearby island of Vieques, and the military presence was reduced.

Now, the base has resumed operations. In recent weeks, work teams have been clearing aircraft runways, fighter jets and transport planes have landed, and new aircraft have been seen at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Grenada

The Grenadian government said in October that the United States contacted it to request a temporary installation of radar equipment and related technical staff at an international airport and that it is "carefully evaluating and reviewing the requests in technical consultations."

The history between the United States and Grenada complicates this decision. U.S. Marines invaded this small island nation in October 1983 following the assassination of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop.

The declared objective of the mission was to protect about 600 American medical students at St. George’s University, but this occurred during the Cold War peak, and President Ronald Reagan was displeased with Bishop, the socialist revolutionary, for building an international airport with the help of armed Cubans.

At that airport, later named after the late leader, a U.S. radar installation center will be established.

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell informed parliament last month that his government "was unable to provide a response" due to ongoing security and technical concerns.