US Deputy Secretary of State holds talks with Trinidad PM

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Monday held talks with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, reaffirming Washington’s partnership with the country and acknowledging Port of Spain’s support for U.S. operations in the Caribbean.

The call came just hours after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered additional troops to the country’s eastern coastline, including Sucre State, where 11 men killed in a U.S. strike last week are believed to have originated.

Persad-Bissessar has openly supported U.S. military actions in the region, declaring last week that U.S. forces should kill drug traffickers “violently.”

According to a statement from State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott, Landau thanked Persad-Bissessar for her public support of U.S. military operations and her government’s cooperation in tackling narcotics and firearms trafficking. The Deputy Secretary also stressed the importance of establishing a U.N. Support Office for Haiti.

"The Deputy Secretary commended Trinidad and Tobago as a strong U.S. partner in the Caribbean.  He acknowledged Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s public support for U.S. military operations in the South Caribbean Sea and both our governments’ commitment to curbing illegal narcotics and firearms trafficking.  The Deputy Secretary also emphasized the importance of establishing a U.N. Support Office for Haiti, with both leaders underscoring the need for further support to address insecurity and violence in Haiti, the statement said.