"Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had attempted to allay concerns about a US C-17 aircraft that had landed in the country, claiming it was carrying marines to assist with a road construction project. She also claimed she was told that no marines remained in the country. But images and videos later emerged of US marines at a Tobago hotel and of a radar installation on the island."
"After being pressed by reporters, Persad-Bissessar admitted on Friday that at least 100 marines were in the country, along with a military-grade radar, believed to be a long-range, high-performance AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR , which US Northrop Grumman defence company said is used for air surveillance, defense and counter-fire."
"The prime minister claimed the radar installation in the country, which is only seven miles away from Venezuela at its closest point, is part of a counter-drug trafficking strategy, and that she had withheld details in the interest of national security and to avoid alerting drug traffickers. Persad-Bissessar has consistently expressed strong support for the US military buildup in the Caribbean. Since September, the US has launched at least 21 airstrikes on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, killing more than 80 people including several Trinidadian citizens. The Pentagon has also deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, and its accompanying strike group to South American waters, in one of the biggest mobilizations of US military power in the region for decades."
Trinidad and Tobago approved a US military radar installation and hosted at least 100 US marines. Visual evidence showed marines at a Tobago hotel and a radar on the island. The prime minister initially said a C-17 carried marines for road construction and that no marines remained, then later acknowledged their presence and the radar. The radar is identified as the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, described as a long-range system for air surveillance, defense and counter-fire. The prime minister said the installation is for counter-drug operations and that details were withheld for national security. The US has conducted multiple airstrikes in the region and deployed a major carrier strike group.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]