Caption: US President Donald Trump signs a proclamation at the “Shield of the Americas” Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, March 7, 2026. 

Summary

• Trump Offers Missiles: US President Donald Trump formally launched a 17-nation ‘counter cartel’ coalition in Florida, offering regional leaders the use of highly accurate US missiles to eliminate narco kingpins.
• T&T Requests US Assets: Trump’s sweeping offer comes just days after Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Minister, Wayne Sturge, appealed to the US Secretary of Defence for military assets to combat Caribbean drug cartels.
• Secrecy Maintained: Facing pressure from local media, Sturge firmly refused to disclose the specific military assets requested, stating that such information must remain confidential to protect national security.
• ‘Misinformation’ Claims: Sturge accused the parliamentary Opposition and certain journalists of running a ‘co-ordinated campaign of misinformation’ designed to stoke fear, including false narratives about a potential war with Venezuela.
• Legal Pushback: Defending the government’s silence under the Freedom of Information Act, the Defence Minister heavily criticised both the Media Association and the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago for allegedly misleading the public regarding the legal limits of national security disclosures.

By Prior Beharry

in Doral, Miami

TWO days after Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Minister Wayne Sturge appealed to the US for military assets—a request that has sparked a fierce domestic debate over national security and transparency, US President Donald Trump has urged Latin American and Caribbean nations to use military power against the “cancer” of drug cartels.

Speaking to Latin American leaders, including Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Guyana President Iraan Ali, at his Doral golf club near Miami on Saturday, Trump formally launched a 17-nation “counter cartel” coalition. The White House described the initiative as a pledge from regional governments to use “hard power” against security threats.

“We’re working with you to do whatever we have to do. We’ll use missiles. You want us to use a missile? They’re extremely accurate,” Trump told the gathered leaders.

During the summit, Trump laid out a position for advancing Washington’s interests in the Western Hemisphere. Amid an ongoing war with Iran, he advocated for tough action against organised crime and took aim at communist-led Cuba, pronouncing that the regime was “in its last moments of life.”

The coalition’s launch follows the Americas Counter Cartel Conference held earlier in the week in Miami, where Sturge appealed directly to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Sturge requested assets to assist Trinidad and Tobago in combating drug cartels operating within the Caribbean.

However, the specific nature of the assets requested remains a closely guarded secret, leading to a clash between the T&T government, the parliamentary Opposition, and the media.

In a statement issued on Friday, Sturge maintained that information regarding the country’s military capabilities, defence assets, or equipment requests will not be disclosed to the public. He emphasized that the Defence Ministry will not entertain questions about military assets, particularly those discussed in camera with international allies, as confidentiality is vital to protect national security and operational effectiveness.

Sturge accused the Opposition and sections of the media of engaging in a “co-ordinated campaign of misinformation” over the past several months. According to the release, critics have repeatedly raised questions about highly sensitive security arrangements with the US and alleged threats from Venezuela.

“The narrative was eventually expanded to suggest that the Government was complicit in taking our country into a war with the government of Venezuela, a war which never happened,” the release stated.

The Defence Minister singled out Member of Parliament for Arouca/Lopinot, Marvin Gonzales, accusing him of a “pattern of irresponsible behaviour” designed to generate fear among citizens.

Defending the government’s silence, Sturge cited Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act, which allows government agencies to refuse the release of information if disclosure would likely prejudice national defence or compromise intelligence services. He stated that releasing the requested information would be “inimical to the public interest.”

“When the Government refused to answer questions… both the Opposition and elements in the media chose to mislead the public by painting a picture that the Government was withholding information from the public for sinister reasons,” Sturge said.

The minister also directed criticism at local professional bodies. He called out the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT), claiming its president asserted the public had a right to the information but could not identify a legal basis for the claim when challenged. Furthermore, he accused the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) of failing its statutory responsibility to clarify the legal position on national security and public disclosure for the citizenry.