ON THE eve of the arrival of US military personnel for a week-long "training mission" with the TT Defence Force and growing concerns that it would fan flames of tension with neighbouring Venezuela, the US Embassy has sought to quell fears.

In a statement on November 15, the embassy highlighted the deep ties between the US military and the TTDF, "which has resulted in stronger security cooperation benefiting both nations and the region."

This is the second visit by members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, who are part of a contingent deployed in the Caribbean Sea since late August to combat suspected narco-traffickers, in training missions with the TTDF.