Trinidad and Tobago is set to see continued US military engagement through joint training, capacity-building exercises, maritime interdiction coordination and disaster response preparedness as part of a strengthened defence partnership with the United States.

The move follows the activation of the United States Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), which will coordinate US military operations with trusted Caribbean and Latin American partners, including Trinidad and Tobago, to counter transnational criminal networks and strengthen regional security.

The new task force is expected to enhance maritime security cooperation, support rapid responses to humanitarian crises and improve coordination among regional partners in addressing complex security threats.