Trump calls Trinidad about terrorism

United States President Donald Trump has invited Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley to visit him in Washington; this while both leaders had a telephone conversation this week about what the White House called ‘shared priorities’.

The White House, in a press statement, said: “President Donald J Trump spoke today (February 19) with Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate cooperation on shared priorities. The two leaders reaffirmed the strong security partnership, and agreed to continue close coordination in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime.”

“President Trump invited Prime Minster Rowley to visit Washington D.C. in the coming months,” the statement further said.

It did not shed any further light on the issues discussed between the two political leaders.

However, the New York Times is reporting that the United States is worried about being located so close to Trinidad and Tobago – “a breeding ground for extremists”.

“American officials worry about having a breeding ground for extremists so close to the United States, fearing that Trinidadian fighters could return from the Middle East and attack American diplomatic and oil installations in Trinidad, or even take a three-and-a-half-hour flight to Miami,” said the New York Times report entitled: Trying to Stanch Trinidad’s Flow of Young Recruits to ISIS.

The article went on to claim that Trinidad has a history of Islamist extremism.