The US is ramping up preparations for its alleged war on narcotics smuggling and other forms of organized crimes in the South Caribbean, holding high level talks with both Guyanese and Trinidadian government officials this week.
The talks on Monday between newly reelected Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Deputy Assistant Secretary of War Joseph M. Humire came hours after Defense Assistant Secretary Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had met with sailors and marines on a US warship in nearby Puerto Rico, telling them that they had been sent to the “front lines” of an important counter narcotics assignment.
The talks with Ali also occurred on the same day that US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau held high level talks with Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar on the current state of events in the South Caribbean and on the strong relations the two nations currently enjoy.
Both Guyana neighboring Trinidad have come out with exceedingly strong statements of support for the US action against Venezuela including the recent deployment of military vessels to waters near Venezuela. Washington says the move is designed to stop tons of cocaine and other illicit drugs from reaching the American mainland. US warships last week sank a go-fast vessel allegedly ferrying cocaine to the US, killing 11 people. Officials said that the vessel was in fact headed to Trinidad.
Trinidadian authorities, apparently happy that international action is finally being taken against organized criminal networks, have openly supported the Trump administration, saying that its own security apparatus is too inadequate to deal with cash flush cocaine cartels smuggling guns and drugs and being involved in human trafficking and other felonies. Authorities have linked the activities to gangland activities, murders for hire and other serious crimes in Trinidad and Tobago, hence its open support from any military activities by the US.
As it relates to Guyana, a note posted on the president’s Facebook page suggested that the talks with the deputy assistant secretary “focused on strengthening and expanding Guyana’s strategic partnership with the United States, with a shared commitment to peace and security across the region.”
It came a day after American fighter jets did a ceremonial flyover on Sunday of seaside activities related to the swearing in of Ali, 45, following general elections held at the beginning of September.
So supportive is the Trinidadian PM that she last week urged the US to “kill all of them violently.” Trinidad has imposed two states of emergencies this year aimed at combating gangland and organized crimes.
