By Alicia Chamely

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is expected to engage in face-to-face talks with the United States later this month at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting.

The prime minister confirmed the upcoming discussions on Monday after the US State Department released details of a call between her and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

In the statement, Landau described T&T as a “strong partner in the Caribbean,” acknowledging Persad-Bissessar’s support of US military operations in the South Caribbean.

Reaffirming the strength of the partnership between the US and T&T, Landau emphasised both governments’ ongoing commitments to fighting narcotic and firearms trafficking.

Persad-Bissessar had long been vocal in her support of the US in its fight against “narco-terrorism.”

On August 14, the US deployed two warships, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to the US Southern Command, with more than 4,000 marines and sailors to the Southern Caribbean Sea, bordering Venezuelan waters.

Shortly after the deployment of the two warships a nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser joined the mission.

The deployment of the military assets and personnel was part of a US effort to combat Latin American cartels, with a focus on the Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua.

On August 24, Persad-Bissessar voiced her support of the US intervention in combating drug and firearm traffickers in a press release.

Persad-Bissessar said the US deployment of troops into the Southern Caribbean for the purpose of fighting cartels had the “full support” of the government.

She said she would support any alliance “with anyone, anywhere who will help us fight drugs, crime, guns, criminals, we are in alliance with any such countries and persons.”

Responding to queries as to whether any arrangement had been made between the T&T government and the US government for the use of T&T’s territory or facilities, Persad-Bissessar said no such arrangement had been made.

She said, however, should Venezuela attack Guyana, the government would offer any territory or facilities needed to “here to protect our CARICOM neighbour, brother and sister.”

Persad-Bissessar’s support of the US military exercise drew criticism from some members of the CARICOM community, who called for the Caribbean to be a “zone of peace.”

On September 2, tensions between the US and Venezuela heightened when the US conducted a targeted airstrike on a Venezuelan vessel alleged to belong to Tren de Aragua.

According to reports from the White House, the small vessel was being used to smuggle narcotics. The White House alleged 11 persons were on board, all of whom died.

Responding to the attack, Persad-Bissessar said, “Our country has been ravaged by bloody violence and addiction because of the greed of the cartels. The slaughter of our people is fuelled by evil cartel traffickers. The pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the US military should kill them all violently.”

Over the weekend, the bodies of two unidentified men washed ashore in the northeast coast of Trinidad, fuelling speculation that the men may have been passengers killed in the US airstrike.

Reports indicated that one of the men, of Latin American descent, bore burn marks on his body consistent with an explosion. His right arm and leg were partially amputated.

The police have been unable to confirm the identity or origin of the bodies, but Minister Homeland Security Roger Alexander assured all efforts are being made to identify the mystery men.