Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Mr. Daniel Erikson, hosted the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley at the Pentagon on January 29. The delegation from Trinidad and Tobago also included Mr. Stuart Young, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries; Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs; Ambassador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Ambassador to the United States; and Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel, Chief of Defence Staff.
Ms. Mieke Eoyang, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy; Ambassador Candace Bond, Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago; COL Robert Creason, Americas Division Chief, Western Hemisphere, Joint Staff J5 Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate; and Major General Michael Berry, Adjutant General of Delaware, also attended for the United States.
Performing the Duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Melissa Dalton, joined the meeting to emphasize the Department's strong support of the U.S. defense partnership with Trinidad and Tobago. The DoD leaders expressed appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago's leadership in the Caribbean Community and in co-hosting the Caribbean Nations Security Conference alongside U.S. Southern Command in November 2024. They further commended the robust partnership between the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and Delaware National Guard, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year through the State Partnership Program. The senior officials exchanged views on illicit trafficking and maritime security, defense force modernization and training, cybersecurity, and frameworks to facilitate expanded bilateral security cooperation.
The meeting reaffirmed the United States' and Department of Defense's commitment to partnership with Trinidad and Tobago and to working together to improve Caribbean regional security and resilience.
