Attorney General John Jeremie has disclosed that the United States will escalate its military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago in the near future. This revelation was made during an interview with the UK Financial Times on November 13, following the arrival of the 22nd US Marine Expeditionary Unit in Trinidad aboard the USS Gravely. The unit conducted joint military exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force from October 26 to 30. Jeremie emphasized the ongoing collaboration with the US, stating, ‘We are engaged with our friends in the north in a series of exercises.’ This announcement coincides with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s declaration on the same day regarding the launch of Operation Southern Spear. Hegseth described the operation as a measure to ‘protect’ the US from narco-terrorists, asserting that ‘the Western hemisphere is America’s neighbourhood – and we will protect it.’ He also confirmed that the operation was initiated under the directive of US President Donald Trump.