As Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Sean Sobers leads one of the Government’s most demanding portfolios—requiring both diplomatic finesse and political judgement. Amid heightened geopolitical tension, with sovereignty and regional cooperation in focus, this role is particularly weighty.
The Foreign and Caricom Affairs Ministry connects T&T to the world. It protects the country’s interests, strengthens international relations, and ensures the nation’s voice in regional and global forums. The minister’s decisions influence how other governments perceive T&T and how secure citizens feel about our global position.
Sobers, to his credit, comes to the job with a strong professional foundation. Before entering politics, he spent over a decade practising law, specialising in civil, commercial, industrial, and family matters. His experience advising on cross-border business transactions, corporate governance, and environmental compliance suggests a grasp of both the local and international dimensions of governance. These credentials make him a fitting choice for a portfolio that sits at the intersection of law, diplomacy, and policy.
Yet, the timing of his appointment could hardly be more complex. T&T’s relationship with Caricom is strained. Critics have accused Port-of-Spain of acting unilaterally on major issues, eroding the spirit of Caribbean unity that has long underpinned this country’s foreign policy.
The Government also faces delicate balancing acts in its relations with larger powers and neighbouring Venezuela. T&T’s geographic and economic proximity to Venezuela makes engagement unavoidable, yet every diplomatic move carries implications for sovereignty and sanctions. Maintaining constructive dialogue without compromising national interests is one of Sobers’ most immediate tests.
That test arrived sooner than expected with the US Navy destroyer USS Gravely and the ensuing public anxiety. In a climate already unsettled by reports of American military strikes in the Caribbean, speculation quickly spread about the nature of the visit. Sobers has since reassured citizens that there is “nothing to fear,” explaining that cooperation with the United States is long-standing and involves training exercises with various arms of our protective services.
The minister also confirmed that Government has received the coordinates of recent US operations, which indicate the strikes occurred in international waters, outside T&T’s Exclusive Economic Zone. More importantly, he reiterated that there is no evidence to suggest that two Trinidadians reportedly killed at sea earlier this month died as a result of any military action.
Still, the reassurance may not be enough. Sobers must now navigate a deeper undercurrent—the United National Congress government’s pro-United States stance, which has already drawn scrutiny at home and regionally. The administration’s close alignment with Washington risks alienating Caribbean neighbours who view US engagement in regional affairs with suspicion. Sobers must, therefore, walk a fine line between advancing national interests through cooperation with the United States and demonstrating that T&T remains an independent, sovereign voice within Caricom.
Sobers also faces the larger challenge of building public trust in Government’s management of foreign affairs. Citizens must be confident that their leaders are neither being misled nor outmanoeuvred in regional or global dealings. This means not only transparency, but also proactive communication and a visible commitment to regional solidarity.
For Sobers, the early days of his tenure have already offered a baptism of fire. The true measure of his success will lie in how effectively he restores confidence that T&T’s foreign policy remains guided by sovereignty, balance, and respect among nations.
