The United States Marine Corps launched new joint military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, marking the second round of drills in just over a month on the island nation situated only 11 kilometers off the Venezuelan coastline. The exercises, which include nighttime training operations, involve the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) working alongside Trinidadian security forces and are scheduled to conclude on Friday. The proximity of these drills to Venezuela has further contributed to rising regional tensions.
Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro condemned the exercises last week, calling them irresponsible military maneuvers that threaten Caribbean stability. His remarks reflect a growing unease in Caracas, particularly following similar U.S.-Trinidadian drills in late October. During the previous round of exercises, the U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely docked in Port of Spain, bringing one of Washington’s most capable naval assets to within a few miles of Venezuelan territorial waters. The presence of the destroyer, coupled with the participation of the 22nd MEU, led to swift denunciations by the Maduro government.
That earlier round of drills prompted Venezuela to suspend several joint energy initiatives with Trinidad and Tobago, including the Dragon Field natural gas development project, which Caracas had considered economically significant. Venezuelan officials went so far as to label Trinidad and Tobago a proxy for the United States, citing the island’s expanding military cooperation with Washington as evidence.
Tensions were inflamed further on Thursday when four U.S. B-52 bombers were observed departing from bases in the northern United States and flying toward the Caribbean before switching off their transponders. While the aircraft ultimately remained outside Venezuelan airspace, the maneuver has been widely interpreted as another instance of psychological pressure, part of a pattern of U.S. bomber flights near Venezuela’s coastline in recent months.
Despite the escalation, reports in U.S. media suggest that President Donald Trump has yet to make a final decision on how to handle the Venezuelan situation. Since ordering a military buildup in the Caribbean in late August, Trump has reportedly hesitated to pursue more aggressive options, with advisers warning that an intervention could entangle Washington in a prolonged conflict reminiscent of Afghanistan or Iraq. As the standoff nears its fourth month, uncertainty continues to shape both Venezuelan calculations and U.S. policy deliberations.