The United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago has issued a security alert cautioning American citizens to avoid all U.S. government facilities throughout the holiday weekend due to what officials describe as “a heightened state of alert.” The warning, released on Saturday, October 18, 2025, comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela following a series of deadly U.S. military strikes in Caribbean waters targeting suspected drug traffickers.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, confirmed to The Associated Press that the alert was based on threats directed at American citizens in the Caribbean nation that “could be linked” to the ongoing regional tensions. The twin-island nation, which lies just seven miles from Venezuela’s northeastern coast, is currently preparing for Monday’s Diwali celebrations, a Hindu festival widely observed in the country where approximately 35% of its 1.4 million residents identify as East Indian.
Impact On Travelers And Residents In Trinidad And Tobago
The security alert explicitly urges American citizens to “avoid and refrain from visiting all U.S. government facilities through the holiday weekend” and advises them to “be aware of your surroundings.” According to The Hill, additional recommendations include monitoring reputable news outlets, ensuring valid U.S. passports for travel, and reporting suspicious activities to local authorities.
The embassy also encouraged Americans to have friends and family enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive timely security updates, as detailed in the official U.S. Embassy alert. The security alert comes in the context of deteriorating relations between the United States and Venezuela following Venezuela’s disputed presidential election in July 2024 and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
Per ABC News, the U.S. military has conducted at least six strikes since early September, resulting in at least 29 fatalities. Most recently, following an attack on Tuesday, the U.S. government took survivors into custody after striking a suspected drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean. The escalating conflict has had a direct impact on local communities in Trinidad and Tobago.
As reported by The Guardian, residents of the fishing village of Las Cuevas are mourning the disappearance of two local fishermen, Chad “Charpo” Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, believed to have been killed in a U.S. strike on Tuesday.
