The U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago cautioned Americans on Saturday to stay away from U.S. government facilities in the Caribbean island nation. This unusual warning comes amid growing tensions between the United States and Venezuela over deadly U.S. strikes in Caribbean waters targeting suspected drug traffickers.
The embassy did not specify the exact reason for issuing the warning. It stated only that, “due to a heightened state of alert, please avoid and refrain from visiting all U.S. government facilities through the holiday weekend,” urging people to “be aware of your surroundings.”
Monday marks a holiday celebrating Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights widely observed in Trinidad and Tobago. Approximately 35% of the country’s 1.4 million people identify as East Indian, making the festival a significant cultural event.
Venezuela is located just miles from Trinidad, where residents of a coastal community mourn the disappearance of two local fishermen believed to have been killed during a U.S. strike on Tuesday.
The alert issued by the U.S. Embassy is based on threats directed at American citizens in Trinidad and Tobago. According to the country’s Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, the threats “could be linked” to the ongoing tensions in the region. Local authorities have declined to share further details about the reported threats.
In response, Trinidad and Tobago’s authorities have implemented heightened security measures to address any potential situations that may arise, said Minister Alexander.
Since early September, six U.S. strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people in the Caribbean. The escalating situation was discussed during a briefing between U.S. officials and authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, Alexander added.
Following the most recent attack, U.S. forces took survivors into custody after a military strike targeted a suspected drug-carrying vessel in Caribbean waters, officials confirmed on Friday.
The Trump administration has characterized alleged drug traffickers as unlawful combatants who must be met with military force, citing intelligence that has not been publicly disclosed. However, some human rights groups have condemned these strikes as extrajudicial killings.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-10-18/us-embassy-issues-warning-to-americans-in-trinidad-and-tobago-as-tensions-with-venezuela-escalate