Following last Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, that has resulted in a rebuke of President Trump and his Republican Party losing both houses of Congress, a wave of political anxiety is sweeping the commentary pages of local papers and social media as well as from known critics of the Kamla Persad Bissessar administration. With shifts in congressional control in Washington to the Democrats, this local vocal segment, including the official PNM political opposition as well as other opponents (former and current UNCites) and critics have renewed calls for PM Kamla to pull back from T&T’s close relationship with President Trump’s administration. These critics, opposition and opponents got it wrong; they appear not to understand the American political system. Contrary to what they may think, Congress does not run “the American government”. Unlike in T&T, US government has three separate and co-equal branches of government – Presidency, Congress, Federal (Supreme) Court. But really, it is the executive branch that runs the government, especially on the issue of foreign relations. The President is in charge of foreign policy, meaning relations with T&T, Venezuela, the Caribbean, etc. Congress does not drive policy towards T&T; it provides funding for foreign policy. Congress rarely ever went against the executive branch on foreign policy even when control was under different political parties. President Trump will continue to dominate foreign policy over the next two years; he may be less hawkish, less interventionist, and less war driven given that Democratic controlled Congress may not give him required funding. But Congress will not act against the interests of USA even if the Democrats don’t like Trump. American interests trump everything else. Congress is pleased that T&T under Kamla is in a partnership with USA and that the government is collaborating with American military on security. The US military also appreciates T&T support on regional security. Congress, regardless of party affiliation, backs the American military and will not jeopardize the partnership with T&T.
So those who are critical of Kamla for aligning with President Trump on geo-politics and regional and domestic security have it wrong. The PM must stay the course with Trump unless there are signals from Congress to do otherwise. And Congress will never act against American national interests regardless of who occupies the White House.
If Kamla had gone against Trump, as the critics and political opposition had sought, like several other regional states did, nationals of T&T would have faced higher tariffs and visa sanctions as has happened to other Caricom states.
There has been no diplomatic risk in aligning with Washington on national or regional security in terms of American relations and the diaspora in USA. It is a matter of everyday survival, public safety, and economic security for TT siding with USA. In a world defined by fast-moving economic challenges and complex border security threats, a small twin island nation cannot afford the luxury of passive neutrality or anti-Americanism that is being propounded by critics and political opponents. Foreign policy must be judged by its results, and a clear-eyed look at the facts shows that Kamla’s partnership with the US is delivering exactly what T&T needs most. There are no visa sanctions except for those who pose a threat to America. Diaspora can still host and sponsor relatives.
One must not not forget the bread-and-butter issue on relations with USA. The US remains T&T largest and most consequential trading partner, acting as the primary destination for exports and the greatest source of foreign investment. For a local manufacturing sector striving to grow and protect jobs, access to the American consumer market is everything. By maintaining a highly cooperative, functional relationship with the White House, Kamla has secured a critical 10 percent preferred tariff rate for local exporters. This concession makes Trini goods cheaper and more attractive on American shelves, keeping T&T factories running and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of working-class families.
The economic benefits extend deeper, possibly also into energy. Exxon and other oil companies are investing. Close ties with Washington allow Kamla’s government to engage directly with the U.S. Department of Energy. Because Kamla is viewed as a reliable partner, the American executive branch has actively helped T&T to identify and vet international investors capable of jumpstarting this massive piece of national infrastructure. Turning our back on that goodwill now would send a dangerous signal of instability to T&T markets, potentially freezing the very investments T&T need to secure its economic future.
Also, Kamla has taken a pragmatic path by integrating local law enforcement into powerful U.S.-led defense frameworks, including “Shield of the Americas”. This partnership has brought immediate, life-saving tools to our shores. Local agencies now have access to advanced satellite intelligence, high-level tactical training, and coordinated maritime surveillance to protect our porous coastlines.
T&T cannot afford to move away from USA based on political opposition from domestic forces or nostalgic ideas of neutrality. T&T live in a region and a world where economic stability must be fought for and where public safety requires powerful allies. Kamla’s current alignment with Washington has protected factories, brought down violent crime rates, tackled narcotics, and opened doors for industrial renewal.
Yours truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
