PORT OF SPAIN, Dec 4, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Wednesday that a new radar installed by the United States in the archipelago is aimed at curbing drug trafficking and the movement of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.

The United States has in recent months increased military cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, located just miles off Venezuela's coast.

Caracas has decried recent military exercises involving a US guided missile destroyer as a provocation, accusing Washington's build-up of military assets in the Caribbean of being aimed at overthrowing its president, Nicolas Maduro.

Under US President Donald Trump, Washington has increased pressure on Maduro's government, designating his government as a drug cartel and rejecting its authority as illegitimate.

Persad-Bissessar, a staunch supporter of Trump, confirmed on November 27 during a television program that the United States would install the radar at a new airport.

On Wednesday, she said the newly installed US radar system was aimed at curbing the movement of Venezuela's oil exports, which are sanctioned by Washington.

"The new radar system assists with the detection of Venezuelan crude oil sanction-busting activities and traffickers who have been conducting deliveries of narcotics, firearms, ammunition and migrants into our country from Venezuela," she said in a statement.

Trump imposed an embargo on Venezuelan oil in 2019 during his first term. In his second term, the Republican leader has maintained sanctions.

"The latest equipment enhances our surveillance capabilities and adds a superior layer of protection that was previously unavailable," said Persad-Bissessar.

Caracas has accused Persad-Bissessar of being part of US plans to overthrow Maduro's government. The prime minister has denied the allegations that her country's territory would be used to attack Venezuela.

Since August, the United States has deployed a fleet of warships and the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean while carrying out deadly strikes on at least 22 vessels, killing at least 83 people, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.

International experts, however, say the strikes are likely illegal and could amount to extrajudicial killings.