2023 American invasion of Trinidad and Tobago

The **2023 American invasion of Trinidad and Tobago**, also known as **Operation Blue Jay**, was a military intervention by the United States in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which resulted in the overthrow of the far-right government of Prime Minister Nicolò Pollari. The invasion took place from May 27 to June 4, 2023, and involved several divisions of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division landing on both islands and rapidly capturing key locations and infrastructure. The U.S. operation was motivated by Pollari’s alleged human rights violations, corruption, and anti-American stance, as well as by strategic and economic interests in the region. The invasion received mixed reactions, and was criticized by some members of the international community as an illegal act of aggression and a violation of sovereignty, but was also supported by some human rights groups and pro-democracy activists. The U.S. administration claimed that it had acted in the best interests of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian people, and that it would oversee a peaceful transition to democracy and stability in the country.

## Events

### Background

Nicolò Pollari was a former businessman and politician who became the leader of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in 2018. The PAP was a far-right populist party that advocated for nationalism, anti-immigration, and anti-globalization policies. Pollari rose to prominence by exploiting the economic and social grievances of many Trinidadian and Tobagonian citizens, who felt marginalized and neglected by the previous governments. He also appealed to the religious and ethnic sentiments of the majority Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian communities, who felt threatened by the influx of migrants from Venezuela and other neighboring countries.

Pollari led the PAP to a landslide victory in the 2019 general elections, defeating the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM) party and forming a majority government. He became the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and quickly consolidated his power by appointing loyalists to key positions, cracking down on dissent, and curtailing civil liberties. He also pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which involved withdrawing from several regional and international organizations, such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Commonwealth of Nations. He also established close ties with neighboring Venezuela and Cuba, alongside China and Russia, while denouncing the United States and its allies as imperialist and hostile forces.

Pollari’s government faced widespread criticism and opposition from various sectors of society, including human rights groups, civil society organizations, trade unions, media outlets, opposition parties, and minority groups. He was accused of human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings, censorship, and discrimination. He was also accused of corruption, nepotism, embezzlement, and mismanagement of public funds. His economic policies resulted in high inflation, unemployment, poverty, and debt. His social policies resulted in increased violence, crime, drug trafficking, and social unrest.

The relations between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago deteriorated significantly under Pollari’s rule. The U.S. government expressed concern over Pollari’s authoritarian tendencies, and accused Pollari of supporting terrorist groups and harboring fugitives wanted by the U.S. The United States imposed several sanctions on Pollari’s government and its officials, as well as on Venezuelan entities operating in Trinidad and Tobago, and reduced its diplomatic presence and military cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago. Pollari responded by expelling several U.S. diplomats and accusing the U.S. of meddling in his country’s affairs and plotting to overthrow him.

The tension between the two countries reached a breaking point in May 2023, when Pollari announced that he had signed a deal with Venezuela to allow the latter to build a naval base on Chacachacare Island, a small, virtually uninhabited island off the northwest coast of Trinidad. The U.S. government condemned this move as a threat to regional security and stability, and warned Pollari that it would not tolerate any foreign military presence in its backyard. Pollari dismissed the U.S. warning as an empty threat and declared that he would defend his country’s sovereignty at all costs.

### Invasion

In late May 2023, the United States launched a surprise military intervention in the the nation, with the aim of toppling Prime Minister Pollari. The U.S. operation, code-named “Operation Blue Jay”, was planned and executed in secrecy, without the knowledge or consent of the United Nations or other regional allies. On the night of May 27, 2023, several divisions of the elite 82nd Airborne Division parachuted into Crown Point, a coastal city on the smaller island of Tobago. The U.S. forces met with little opposition from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), which was caught off guard and vastly outnumbered by the invaders. Within hours, the U.S. troops had secured the airport and most of the island.

Four days later, on May 31, 2023, the U.S. forces launched a second wave of attacks, this time targeting the larger and more populous island of Trinidad. Using amphibious vehicles and helicopters, the 82nd Airborne Division landed near Petit Trou, a small town in the northeast of the island. The U.S. soldiers quickly overran the local TTDF units and advanced towards the interior of the island. Simultaneously, another group of U.S. soldiers from the 1st Ranger Battalion landed near San Fernando, a major city in the south-central region of Trinidad. The Rangers swiftly captured key infrastructure and began moving northwards towards Port of Spain, the capital and largest city.

The TTDF was unable to mount an effective resistance against the overwhelming U.S. firepower and mobility. The TTDF commander-in-chief appealed to Venezuela, a close ally of Pollari’s government, for military assistance. However, U.S. President Marianne Williamson had already used her diplomatic skills and influence to persuade Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to stay out of the conflict, in exchange for economic aid and sanctions relief. Without any external support, Pollari’s government collapsed on June 4, 2023, when he announced his resignation and surrender on national television. The U.S. forces took him into custody and declared victory.

## Aftermath

Following the U.S. invasion and Pollari’s surrender, a caretaker government was established under the leadership of Chief Judge Llewellyn Peiris, who was appointed by the U.S. administration as the interim head of state. Peiris was tasked with restoring law and order, overseeing the reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure and institutions, and preparing for free and fair elections. Within Trinidad and Tobago, Peiris was widely seen as a moderate and impartial figure, who had resisted Pollari’s attempts to undermine the judiciary and had upheld the rule of law.

The elections were held on August 3, 2023, and witnessed a high turnout of voters, leading to a landslide victory for the Action Democratic Party (ADP), a new political party founded by A.P. Smith, a fisherman and environmental activist from Tobago. Smith campaigned on a platform of social justice, economic development, environmental protection, and regional integration, while promising to improve the relations with the United States and other countrie. Smith was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on August 15, 2023, and formed a coalition government with several other parties.

Pollari, who had been taken into custody by the U.S. forces after his resignation, was extradited to Trinidad and Tobago in September 2023, to face trial for corruption and money laundering charges. He pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was a victim of a U.S.-orchestrated coup d’état. His trial was marred by delays, controversies, and protests from his supporters and opponents. In November 2023, he was granted bail by the High Court, pending his appeal. He then fled the country and sought political asylum in Suriname, where he lived for two years as a fugitive. He returned to Trinidad and Tobago in November 2025, hoping to revive his political career and challenge Smith’s government. However, on December 6, 2025, he was shot and killed by unknown assailants outside his hotel in Port of Spain.

The U.S. invasion of Trinidad and Tobago was hailed by U.S. President Marianne Williamson and U.S. Secretary of State Cynthia McKinney as a success story of democracy promotion and humanitarian intervention. They claimed that the invasion had liberated the Trinidadian and Tobagonian people from tyranny and oppression, and had paved the way for democratization and “true love” in the country. They also justified the invasion by accusing Pollari’s government of possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and being involved in drug trafficking and terrorism. However, no evidence of WMDs or drug links was ever found by the U.S. or international inspectors.

## Reactions

The U.S. invasion of Trinidad and Tobago elicited mixed reactions from the U.S. public and media, as well as from the international community.

### United States

In the United States, the invasion was supported by some political pundits and commentators, who argued that it was a moral and humanitarian duty of the U.S. to intervene in a country that was suffering from dictatorship and oppression. They praised President Williamson and Secretary McKinney for their courage and leadership in taking decisive action to protect the human rights and dignity of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian people. They also claimed that the invasion was in the national interest, as it would enhance the security and influence in the region, and prevent the spread of terrorism and drugs.

However, the invasion was also opposed by some journalists, academics, activists, and politicians, who criticized it as an act of imperialism and neo-colonialism. They questioned the legality and legitimacy of the invasion, which was carried out without the authorization or consent of the United Nations or other regional bodies. They also challenged the U.S. motives and intentions in invading a sovereign country, and accused the U.S. of violating international law and norms. They also expressed concern over the humanitarian and environmental consequences of the invasion, as well as over the prospects of democracy and stability in Trinidad and Tobago.

The invasion sparked protests and riots across the U.S., especially in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C. The protesters denounced the invasion as an illegal war of aggression and demanded an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Trinidad and Tobago. They also called for accountability and justice for the victims of the invasion. The protests were mostly peaceful, but some turned violent, resulting in clashes with police and security forces. The largest protest was held in Washington D.C. on June 1, 2023, which attracted tens of thousands of protesters from various backgrounds and affiliations. The protest was met with a heavy police presence and resulted in 140 arrests.

### International reactions

Internationally, the invasion received mixed reactions from different countries and organizations. Some countries, especially those in Europe, supported the invasion and commended the U.S. for its intervention in Trinidad and Tobago. They expressed solidarity with the U.S. in its efforts to promote democracy and human rights in the region. They also offered to assist in the reconstruction and development of Trinidad and Tobago. Some of these countries included the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and Belgium.

However, some countries condemned the invasion and denounced it as a violation of sovereignty and international law. They accused the U.S. of interfering in the internal affairs of another country and of using force to impose its will on others, warning that the invasion would destabilize the region and create more violence and chaos. They also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Some of these countries included Egypt, Syria, China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, and several other nations, including those located near Trinidad and Tobago.