The United States military is set to return to Trinidad and Tobago next week for a joint training exercise with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF). The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will participate in the drills, which are scheduled from November 16 to 21. This marks the second such exercise in just over a month, following a similar engagement in October that saw the USS Gravely dock in Port of Spain. The exercises, which will span both rural and urban environments, aim to enhance military-to-military collaboration, focusing on equipment familiarity, tactical training, and professional development. US military assets, including helicopters, will be utilized during the operations, which are planned primarily for dusk and nighttime. Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers emphasized the importance of these exercises, stating, ‘Steel sharpens steel,’ and highlighting their role in strengthening the TTDF’s capacity to combat illegal drugs and weapons. However, the exercises have drawn criticism from Venezuela, which accused Trinidad of facilitating US military aggression. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has placed his military on high alert and mobilized civilian militias in response. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz defended the exercises, stating they align with US Southern Command’s mission to promote regional stability and counter transnational threats. Meanwhile, former officials and critics have raised concerns about the timing and scale of the exercises, with some suggesting they may be a precursor to broader military actions in the region.
分类： world
-
Joint Dominican-US operation halts alleged cocaine-smuggling boat
In a significant joint operation, authorities in the Dominican Republic, in collaboration with the United States, intercepted a boat carrying approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine off the Dominican coast. The operation, conducted on Saturday, was part of the United States Southern Command’s initiative, Operation Southern Spear, aimed at combating drug trafficking in the region. The National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) stated that the operation involved extensive efforts by air, sea, and land to capture the suspects and seize the narcotics. Two Dominican nationals were arrested, and 484 packets of cocaine were confiscated from the 27-foot-long boat, which was equipped with two outboard motors. The DNCD emphasized its close cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in executing this operation. Operation Southern Spear, announced by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is part of a broader military deployment in Latin America to target drug-running operations allegedly managed by ‘narco-terrorist’ cartels. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused US President Donald Trump of planning operations to overthrow his government. Since September, the US has conducted strikes on 21 suspected drug-trafficking boats in the region, resulting in at least 80 deaths. The US has also accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel and has offered a $50 million reward for his capture. On Friday, Trump hinted at having ‘sort of’ decided his next steps regarding Venezuela but provided no further details.
-
Cuba thanks Venezuela’s support in recovery after hurricane Melissa
In a display of international solidarity, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have joined forces to address the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba and Venezuela. Diaz-Canel recently visited Santiago de Cuba, where he commended the tireless efforts of local brigades and national teams working to restore essential services in the hurricane-stricken regions. He highlighted the resilience of communities in El Cristo and El Caney, describing them as ‘full of history and courage.’ Meanwhile, Venezuelan brothers, dispatched by President Maduro, have been actively assisting in recovery operations, symbolizing the strong bond between the two nations. On social media platform X, Diaz-Canel expressed gratitude to the Venezuelan people for their support. Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero also emphasized the importance of solidarity, noting the continuous distribution of national and international donations to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and underweight children. Provinces and municipalities have prioritized delivering basic food supplies like rice, peas, and oil to the most affected areas. Beyond material aid, Marrero underscored the Cuban people’s intrinsic value of sharing resources, acknowledging the contributions of non-state actors, businesses, and citizens. With key infrastructures severely damaged, Cuban authorities have implemented innovative measures to expedite the restoration of essential services.
-
US Principal Officer visits Carriacou and Petite Martinique
Cindy Diouf, the Principal Officer of the US Embassy in Grenada, recently concluded a three-day visit to the sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique from October 22 to 24, 2025. This visit underscores the embassy’s unwavering commitment to American Citizen Services (ACS) outreach and infrastructure recovery in regions devastated by Hurricane Beryl, which struck on July 1, 2024, causing catastrophic damage. The hurricane’s aftermath has necessitated sustained US-supported projects and diplomatic engagement to foster recovery and resilience. During her visit, Diouf provided essential ACS services, including passport renewals and notarial assistance, while conducting courtesy visits and inspecting key recovery projects. Highlights of her trip included strengthening disaster preparedness through visits to two Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) donated by the US Southern Command, advancing community well-being with a tour of a containerised health clinic in Dumfries, Carriacou, promoting food security and education via a chicken coop project at Hillsborough Primary School, and enhancing educational infrastructure by reviewing donated library benches in Petite Martinique. Diouf emphasized that the visit was not merely about consular services but also about reaffirming the US’s commitment to supporting infrastructure and resilience initiatives that empower communities. The embassy continues to collaborate with local stakeholders across Carriacou, Petite Martinique, and mainland Grenada to promote education, health, resilience, and citizen services.
-
Zachary Phillips Highlights Urgent Climate Realities for Small Island States at COP30 Session
Zachary Phillips, Crown Counsel at the Attorney General’s Office of Antigua and Barbuda and a prominent representative of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), took center stage at the COP30 session titled ‘The ICJ Has Ruled: States’ Obligation to Close the Climate Ambition Gap.’ The session convened global youth leaders, policy experts, and climate justice advocates to dissect the ramifications of the International Court of Justice’s recent advisory opinion on climate responsibilities. Phillips delivered a poignant narrative on the dire realities confronting Small Island Developing States (SIDS), spotlighting the escalating peril of intensifying hurricanes and climate-induced disasters. He illustrated that modern hurricanes often dwarf the combined size of several Caribbean islands, making evacuation unfeasible and endangering entire populations simultaneously. Phillips emphasized that these are not hypothetical scenarios but lived experiences for communities in the region. He highlighted the acute vulnerability of SIDS, where recovery from one catastrophe is frequently disrupted by the next, severely taxing national systems, infrastructure, and economies. Advocating for a paradigm shift in global climate finance, Phillips criticized the reliance on concessional loans, which exacerbate debt burdens for SIDS. Instead, he called for grant-based financing to bolster resilience-building, adaptation infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.
-
Ghanaian royal urges direct Africa-Caribbean links to rebuild shared ties
A groundbreaking direct flight from Ghana to Barbados has reignited discussions on establishing permanent transport links between Africa and the Caribbean. The historic journey, which took place earlier this week, was highlighted by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the ceremonial ruler of Ghana’s Ashanti Empire, during a forum titled ‘Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny: Connect. Build. Renew’ at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. The Asantehene emphasized the need for ‘air and sea bridges’ to foster deeper connections between the two regions, which share a profound historical and cultural legacy. He praised Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley for her advocacy in this regard, describing her as a ‘daughter of Africa.’ The Asantehene and his delegation arrived in Barbados on Tuesday aboard the historic flight, ahead of the GUBA 2025 Investment Conference and Awards. He stressed that overcoming long-standing barriers to travel and engagement is essential for meaningful reconnection. ‘A direct flight can take a shorter time and be more convenient,’ he noted, urging greater determination and coordination to transform geographic proximity into genuine connectivity. The Asantehene outlined a broader mission to reconnect Africa and its diaspora through education, culture, and direct engagement. He called for confronting the shared trauma of enslavement, colonization, and racism, while promoting academic exchanges, cultural partnerships, and diaspora-led initiatives in sectors like health, agriculture, and finance. Economic cooperation, he argued, is vital for both regions, with new trade corridors needed to bypass traditional colonial routes. He highlighted the African Union’s 2006 designation of the diaspora as the continent’s ‘sixth region’ and the role of institutions like Afreximbank in supporting development across CARICOM. The Asantehene also pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a catalyst for expanding opportunities. ‘Finance is the oxygen of development,’ he said, urging creative resource mobilization. Concluding his address, he called for unity and long-term cooperation, emphasizing, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ The Ashanti Empire, founded in the late 1600s, remains a symbol of African resilience, with its rich cultural heritage enduring despite colonial challenges.
-
Ambassador Ruleta Camacho-Thomas Champions Caribbean Voices on Climate Mobility and Loss and Damage at COP30 in Brazil
At the COP30 Conference in Belém, Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador for Climate Change, Ruleta Camacho-Thomas, delivered a compelling address at a high-level event focused on Climate Mobility and Loss and Damage. Her speech shed light on the profound and multifaceted challenges faced by Caribbean communities due to climate-induced displacement. Ambassador Camacho-Thomas emphasized that the displacement caused by climate change extends beyond physical relocation, deeply affecting mental health, community cohesion, and cultural heritage. Drawing from Antigua and Barbuda’s experience with Hurricane Irma and Jamaica’s ongoing struggles after Hurricane Melissa, she illustrated how natural disasters can rapidly dismantle the social fabric of entire populations. The Ambassador stressed the urgent need for access to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, a critical resource to alleviate the human, economic, and cultural toll of displacement. She asserted that climate mobility is not a distant threat but a present reality reshaping Caribbean life. Ambassador Camacho-Thomas called for a collective response that prioritizes the protection of people, culture, and dignity. Her participation at COP30 highlights Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership in advocating for climate justice, equity, and resilience, particularly for small island developing states on the global stage.
-
Dominican Republic signs air services agreement with Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
In a landmark development for international aviation, the Dominican Republic has solidified its air connectivity with Scandinavia by signing a definitive Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The agreement, finalized during the ICAO ICAN2025 World Conference on Air Services Agreements, marks the culmination of negotiations that began in 2016. The signing ceremony was attended by key figures, including Héctor Porcella, president of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), Øyvind Ek from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, and representatives Ingrid Almén and Lasse Kindberg from Sweden and Denmark. This historic pact formalizes air relations between the Dominican Republic and the Scandinavian nations, paving the way for expanded flight routes and enhanced tourism opportunities. The agreement underscores the Dominican Republic’s commitment to fostering international aviation cooperation and strengthening diplomatic ties with Northern Europe.
-
Türkiye recovers body of last victim of plane crash
Following extensive search operations at the crash site of a military cargo plane, authorities have successfully recovered the body of the twentieth victim, as confirmed in an official press release. The tragic incident involved a C-130 aircraft belonging to the Turkish Air Force, which crashed while returning from Azerbaijan to Turkish territory. The Ministry of Defense had earlier confirmed the deaths of all 20 military personnel on board. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the retrieval of the aircraft’s black box and the initiation of a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The investigation is being conducted in coordination with authorities from Azerbaijan and Georgia. Official reports indicate that search and rescue teams from both countries located the wreckage in a remote, mountainous area, where technical inspections are currently underway.
-
China: Latin Americans promote Global South voice and multipolarity
The Global South Academic Forum, a gathering of over 200 participants from 29 countries, served as a platform for critical discussions on cultural hegemony, global peace, and the challenges facing the Global South. Mexican researcher Ana Esther Ceceña emphasized the necessity of dismantling cultural dominance and fostering inclusive dialogues that engage diverse global voices. She provided a historical analysis of the rise and subsequent structural crisis of U.S. and Western power post-World War II. Randy Alonso, Director General of IDEAS Multimedios in Cuba, echoed these sentiments, advocating for a world rooted in peace and dialogue, while opposing fascism and xenophobia. Alonso highlighted the forum’s role in promoting inclusion and countering the media warfare led by the United States. Tica Moreno, representing the National Coordinating Body of the World March of Women, underscored the importance of shared perspectives on historical and contemporary issues, including the technological rivalry between China and the U.S. in artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. Venezuelan professor Carlos Ron condemned U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, warning of the escalating threat of war in the region. The forum, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory against global fascism, also addressed the post-war international order and the pressing issues confronting the Global South.