Trinidad & Tobago Reaffirms CARICOM Ties Amid Foreign Policy Shift

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has moved to clarify recent remarks suggesting a rift with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), reaffirming Trinidad & Tobago’s commitment to the regional bloc despite policy disagreements.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister sparked concern by stating her government no longer viewed CARICOM as a “reliable partner,” citing the bloc’s stance on Venezuela and its call for the Caribbean to remain a “zone of peace” amid U.S. counter-narcotics operations in the region. Trinidad & Tobago has expressed support for U.S. efforts – including kinetic strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels – putting it at odds with several CARICOM members.

In a speech Thursday, Persad-Bissessar sought to dispel speculation that her country was preparing to exit the bloc. “Some misinterpreted what I said,” she explained.

“We must explore new frontiers in our foreign policy – but that does not mean abandoning CARICOM.”

She pointed to ongoing regional cooperation, including the dispatch of emergency supplies from Trinidad & Tobago to Jamaica, as evidence of continued solidarity. “We cannot remain cloistered and closed,” she added.

As geopolitical currents reshape the Caribbean, Persad-Bissessar framed the moment as one of strategic recalibration, not retreat: “This is about diversification, diplomacy, and delivery – shifting from energy resources to energy innovation, and from promise to progress.”