August 09, 2021: The Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Admiral Craig S. Faller, will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on August 10 to meet with government officials and the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force. They will discuss continued security cooperation and the strong partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.
Admiral Faller will meet with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, and Chief of Defense Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, Air Commodore Darryl Daniel. He will accompany Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh on a visit to the field hospital at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain. In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense donated two field hospitals valued at US$1.5 million to Trinidad and Tobago. The hospitals added 80 additional beds to the country’s capacity and helped to reduce the strain on the parallel healthcare system established by the Ministry of Health in the fight against COVID-19.
Admiral Faller’s visit will pave the way for stronger cooperative ties between SOUTHCOM and the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force. As valued and longstanding defense partners, the two countries routinely partner to counter transnational criminal organizations, support humanitarian assistance, prepare for natural disasters, advance the role of women in peace and security missions, and increase security capacity within the defense forces. This is Admiral Faller’s second visit to Trinidad and Tobago.