Drone strikes prompt Trump administration high alert for US citizens in Trinidad

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald on Oct 18, 2025

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The U.S. government is warning U.S. citizens to steer clear of U.S. installations in Trinidad and Tobago, including its embassy in Port-of-Spain, amid the ongoing buildup of its military in the region and drone strikes off the coast of Venezuela.

“Due to a heightened state of alert please avoid and refrain from visiting all U.S. Government facilities in Trinidad and Tobago through the holiday weekend,” the State Department said. It urged U.S. citizens to monitor their surroundings and tune in to reputable news outlets.

The highly unusual alert on Saturday came days after two Trinidadians were allegedly among six individuals killed when a U.S. drone blew up a boat in the Caribbean Sea. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a vocal supporter of the Trump administration’s actions, did not condemn the incident and was notably missing Friday from a debate in parliament.

The unusual absence, the recent resignation of the head of the Doral-based U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for military action in the region, and Saturday’s heightened alert have served to fuel speculation that the U.S. may be preparing to escalate its attacks in the area. Trinidad is only seven miles from the Venezuelan coast.

A security expert in the oil-rich twin-island nation said the prime minister and U.S. embassy may be operating off the same intelligence. He noted no such alerts have been issued for other neighboring countries. Such alerts, he said, are usually targeted toward where governments deem the threat may be.

On Saturday, the 15-member Caribbean Community broke its silence on the U.S. attacks in the region. Its statement was endorsed by member states with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, and came after pressure by former prime ministers and opposition leaders for the bloc to take a stance.

Heads of government of the Caribbean Community “reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean Region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict,” the statement said.

CARICOM leaders said they are committed to fighting narcotrafficking and the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons that adversely affect the region.

“Efforts to overcome these challenges should be through ongoing international cooperation and within international law,” the statement continued. Leaders also “reaffirmed unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the Region and the safety and livelihoods of the people of the Region.”