U.S. Warship USS Gravely Arrives in Trinidad and Tobago for Joint Anti-Drug Exercises Amid Tensions Near Venezuela

USS Gravely Docks in Port of Spain

The USS Gravely (DDG-107), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy, docked in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Sunday, October 26, 2025. The warship's arrival, announced by the Trinidadian government on Thursday, October 23, marks the commencement of joint exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF). A contingent of U.S. Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is scheduled to conduct training alongside their Trinidadian counterparts until Thursday, October 30, 2025.

Part of Broader Anti-Drug Trafficking Campaign

The exercises are a component of an escalating military campaign by the United States against drug-trafficking organizations in Latin America. This campaign has specifically targeted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, whom U.S. officials have accused of being a 'narcoterrorist' and offered a $50 million bounty for his arrest. The U.S. has intensified its efforts in the region, including conducting airstrikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, which have reportedly resulted in at least 43 deaths across ten strike incidents as of October 24, 2025. The deployment also follows the recent order for the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the region.

Venezuelan Condemnation and Regional Tensions

The proximity of the exercises to Venezuela's coast, just 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) at its closest point, has drawn sharp criticism from Caracas. The Venezuelan government denounced the arrival of the USS Gravely as a 'dangerous provocation' and a 'serious threat to the peace of the Caribbean.' President Maduro has accused the United States of 'fabricating a war' aimed at his ouster and has ordered nationwide military exercises involving the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB). While the Trinidadian government has cooperated with the U.S. initiative, some residents of Trinidad and Tobago have expressed concerns about their nation becoming entangled in the escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.

Ongoing U.S. Military Presence

The visit of the USS Gravely is part of a sustained U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, with the stated goal of enhancing regional security and combating transnational threats. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has been actively involved in various exercises, including Tradewinds 2025, which focused on maritime security, interagency coordination, and disaster response. The U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz, emphasized that the partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago 'exemplifies regional strength through collaboration' to address shared threats.