USS Gravely Arrives in Trinidad and Tobago
A U.S. Navy destroyer made its way to Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, as the Trump administration looks to bolster its military footprint in the Caribbean amid ongoing tensions with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
The government of Trinidad confirmed the arrival of the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, which is currently anchored in Port of Spain.
According to U.S. officials, this visit aims to facilitate joint training exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force. The focus is primarily on combating transnational crime while also enhancing regional security and humanitarian initiatives.
The destroyer is expected to stay in the area until Thursday, during which U.S. Marines and local defense forces will engage in exercises centered on maritime security and counter-narcotics efforts.
The USS Gravely is operating alongside the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, as part of a broader military engagement in the area. The administration has labeled this deployment as a preventive measure against local crime and a successful diplomatic strategy aimed at applying pressure to Maduro’s regime.
Allegations have surfaced against Maduro’s government for permitting drug-trafficking operations to flourish within Venezuela. The U.S. military has struck vessels connected to drug smuggling in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific in recent months.
Recently, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth shared footage on social media regarding a U.S. attack on a drug-trafficking ship, asserting that smugglers would not find refuge in the hemisphere.
“Just as al-Qaeda waged war against our homeland, these cartels wage war against our borders and people. There is no refuge, there is no forgiveness, there is only justice,” Hegseth noted.
Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham mentioned that a ground operation in Venezuela could be a “real possibility,” hinting that the Trump administration may pursue regime change practices.
“I think President Trump believes it’s time for Maduro to go, especially given that he’s been indicted as a drug trafficker,” Graham stated. He emphasized that Venezuela and Colombia have acted as safe havens for narco-terrorists for far too long. Trump has indicated plans to brief Congress on potential military actions in the region upon his return from Asia.
Graham downplayed concerns surrounding the need for Congressional approval for military actions, referencing former President George H.W. Bush’s 1989 invasion of Panama, which occurred without such consent.
“Bush 41 went into Panama to replace a corrupt leadership that was collaborating with drug cartels. This isn’t murder; it’s about safeguarding America from the dangers posed by narco-terrorists,” he explained.
In response, President Maduro condemned U.S. actions, accusing the nation of “fabricating a new forever war” that risks destabilizing the entire region.
“They promised never to go to war again, yet they are crafting a conflict that we will evade. This narrative they are spinning is extravagant, vulgar, criminal, and utterly false,” Maduro remarked.
