The US warship, part of a broader military buildup in the Caribbean, had arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for a series of training operations aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation between the two nations.
Officials from both governments confirmed that while docked in Port of Spain, US troops and Trinidadian forces participated in joint drills focused on regional defense and emergency response.
However, Venezuelan authorities condemned the island nation’s decision to host the US destroyer, calling it a “provocation” and subsequently suspending bilateral energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago, located just a few miles from the Venezuelan Caribbean coast, plays a key strategic role in Caribbean maritime security and US regional defense initiatives.