The United States will hold new military drills in Trinidad and Tobago for five days starting Sunday, the Caribbean nation says.

Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister Sean Sobers on Friday denied that next week’s exercises would be a precursor to any potential US military action near the country, particularly in Venezuela.

While there are signs of unease globally over US action in the region, the Caribbean nation’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has championed US presence and has feuded with Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

The drills will include the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, already stationed in the region.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago said the exercises would allow US and its own troops to become familiar with each other’s tactics and techniques, and that its forces would be trained by the Americans to deal with domestic issues such as drug-related crime and gang violence.

In recent weeks, the US has sent additional military assets, including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, to the region. In response, Venezuela has mobilized its own forces, raising fears that both the US and Venezuela may be preparing for a larger conflict.

While the US has characterized its regional build-up of forces as aimed at combating drug boats, some experts have questioned why so much firepower is needed for this purpose.

President Donald Trump has said he believes Maduro’s days are numbered and that US military action remains an option. Maduro recently urged the US against conflict, telling CNN his message to Trump was “yes peace, yes peace.”