Enhanced Communication for TTDF: US Donates Harris Radios Valued at US $653K

In a demonstration of continued partnership and commitment to regional security, the United States Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, recently made the donation to the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF), through the US Embassy of 45 state-of-the-art military Harris radios.

Valued at US $653,000, the radios will greatly enhance communication capabilities within the TTDF and foster operational effectiveness against illicit trafficking and transnational crime.

The donation ceremony was held at Staubles Bay Chaguaramas, at the headquarters of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, and it highlighted the work being done under the aegis of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.

CBSI aims to enhance cooperation between 13 Caribbean nations, including Trinidad and Tobago, on security matters. This donation, which works to enhance TTDF communication infrastructure, serves to reconfirm U.S. efforts to enable security and safety improvements for the Caribbean.

Major General Julian Cheater, Director J5 Strategy, Policy, Plans for SOUTHCOM, reiterated the critical importance of the donation, as Harris Radios offer a dramatic increase in capabilities for the TTDF—from communication to situational awareness and interoperability.

These are not only key capabilities for internal coordination within the TTDF but also enabling seamless collaboration between regional and international partners.

U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Candace Bond, reiterated the strategic value of the assistance, noting that with the advanced communication tools, TTDF will be in a position to better protect the country’s borders, counter transnational threats, and ensure regional stability.

Ambassador Bond said such efforts are evidence of the strong military-to-military ties that exist between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago as they work together to confront common security priorities in the Caribbean.

The donation of the Harris radios is an actual investment in building capacity for Trinidad and Tobago to deal with modern security challenges. This donation is consistent with U.S. support to our Caribbean partners in building resilience against contemporary challenges and emerging threats.

These enhanced communication capabilities are expected to strengthen cooperation and collective security efforts in further solidifying the bonds of collaboration between the United States and its Caribbean allies.

As both nations look ahead, the donation ceremony is a somber reminder of their shared commitment to move forward with mutual security interests and stability in the Caribbean. The United States, through programs such as the CBSI and donations like these radios, will make strides toward an ever safer and more prosperous future for the whole region.