National Security Minister Edmund Dillon says a two-day visit by United States Southern Command was aimed at strengthening ties and improving the sharing of information to tackle crime and terrorism.
Dillon met yesterday with Admiral Kurt Tidd, Commander of US Southern Command to discuss security support and collaboration between the countries at the Waterfront Complex, in Port-of-Spain.
“We also dealt with issues with respect to American security involvement and issues pertinent to T&T, the movement of illegal drugs, illegal guns which we treat with on a daily basis and treat with the issues of crime. We believe that we will continue to strengthen capacity building with the United States government,” he said.
He said members of the Defence Force, Air Guard, Coast Guard and the Army was exposed to training from the United States government.
“We are looking at ways to broaden in terms of information and intelligence sharing issues with respect to terrorism and terrorist financing and so on,” he said.
Tidd said the opportunity to meet over the past couple of days to discuss security issues of mutual concern to our nations and the region was crucial.
“Our bilateral and regional cooperation is crucial to confronting these shared threats. The United States respects and values the significant contribution T&T makes to the stability in the Caribbean and the hemisphere.
“We appreciate the opportunity to share perspectives and ideas on effective ways to collaborate against threats of mutual concern and we salute T&T’s willingness to address the tough issues including the challenge of radical extremism.
Our dialogue and partnership allow us to more effectively address the trans-regional networks that enable criminal and extremist activities,” he said.
Tidd said the partnership enhanced their ability to support humanitarian assistance operations to save lives and ease suffering in the aftermath of disasters.