Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her Government intends to build on what she described as the strong and enduring friendship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, as Washington declared that relations between the two countries are at a “historic high.”
Persad-Bissessar made the statement yesterday while responding to US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, following his visit to this country earlier this week.
She thanked Landau for his visit and also expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for what she described as his “strong support” for T&T.
“My Government deeply values the strong and enduring friendship between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“We are proud of the progress being made together in energy development, critical minerals, trade and investment, and the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking.”
The Prime Minister said her administration looked forward to further strengthening the relationship for the “mutual benefit, security and prosperity” of both countries.
Her comments came after Landau, in a social media post, gave a glowing assessment of the relationship between the two governments, saying ties had reached new heights under Trump and Persad-Bissessar.
“Under President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, relations between the US and Trinidad and Tobago are at a historic high,” Landau said.
He said both leaders were focused on achieving tangible benefits for their citizens and pointed to cooperation in energy, critical minerals and the fight against drug cartels as evidence of progress.
Landau said he was “honored and delighted” to travel to Port-of-Spain to celebrate joint achievements in “promoting energy development, strengthening critical mineral supply chains, and combatting drug cartels.”
His visit coincided with the formal start of refurbishment works at the former ArcelorMittal steel plant at Point Lisas, which is being revived through a proposed US$750 million investment by Ibis Steel Company, backed by US-based Pinnacle Steel and Vanadium Corporation.
The plant has been idle since ArcelorMittal shut down operations in 2016, leaving 644 workers displaced. Pinnacle plans to initially invest US$250 million to refurbish the facility, with first production targeted for the end of 2027. The initial restart is expected to create 350 jobs, rising to 500 full-time positions once production begins. A further US$500 million expansion is eventually expected to double employment to approximately 1,000 jobs.
Beyond steel production, the facility is expected to process vanadium, a critical mineral used in aerospace engineering and battery technology.
Pinnacle CEO Edwin Bennett said the company ultimately wants the T&T operation to produce the equivalent of 100 per cent of the vanadium currently imported by the United States, positioning this country as an important part of Western efforts to develop critical-mineral supply chains outside China.
During Monday’s ceremony, Landau described the reopening of the plant as the “resurrection” of T&T’s steel industry and said the project demonstrated that the growing partnership between Washington and Port-of-Spain was producing tangible results.
“This isn’t just a lot of talk about partnership; it’s actual, tangible results,” Landau said at the event.
Persad-Bissessar also highlighted the cultural side of Landau’s visit, saying it was a pleasure introducing him to the “sweet sound” of T&T’s national instrument, the steelpan.
Landau similarly thanked the Prime Minister, her team and the people of T&T for their hospitality, while noting that he had been introduced to the country’s “iconic national instrument.”
Persad-Bissessar said that her Government intends to deepen the partnership with Washington, saying both countries would continue working together on economic development and security.
