Two U.S. Marine Corps Boeing C-17A Globemaster III military transport aircraft departed from ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago yesterday morning following a brief presence on the island. The aircraft, identified by tracking codes RCH660 (01-0192) and RCH661 (99-0165), originated from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina and were returning to the United States. While only one aircraft appeared on public flight tracking service FlightRadar24, departing at 5:53 a.m., open-source intelligence sources confirmed both aircraft had transited through the airport.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar addressed the presence of U.S. military personnel in Trinidad and Tobago, confirming that marines remain in the country for training exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. She characterized the aircraft’s mission as assistance with ‘a bit of roadway’ at the airport but provided no specific details about the nature of this assistance.
The Prime Minister explicitly denied any connection between the military aircraft and escalating tensions between the United States and neighboring Venezuela. ‘It is not a military force as such; they are not here on the ground, we are not about to launch any campaign against Venezuela,’ Persad-Bissessar stated emphatically. ‘Trinidad and Tobago has not been asked to be a base for any war against Venezuela.’
The departure occurred just one day after U.S. General Dan Caine, a top military officer, met with the Prime Minister. While Persad-Bissessar confirmed the meeting, she insisted there were no discussions about Venezuela during their conversation.
The C-17 Globemaster III, described by the U.S. Air Force as its ‘most flexible’ cargo aircraft, is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and various types of cargo to both main operating bases and forward deployment areas. Social media posts throughout yesterday documented sightings of the large aircraft departing Tobago.