Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge this afternoon invoked Standing Order 27 (G), refusing to answer if the US military had been granted permission to facilitate certain operations within Trinidad and Tobago’s territory.

His refusal follows the sighting of at least three US warships miles away from Trinidad and Venezuela days ago, and reports of US military aircraft flying within and around T&T’s airspace over the course of the past few weeks- prior to the announcement of joint military exercises between the two nations.

The Minister was asked by Member of Parliament for Arouca Lopinot and former National Security Minister Marvin Gonzales if the US had been given authorization to conduct military operations. Gonzales posed the query as an urgent question during a Parliamentary sitting this afternoon.