following recent joint military drills, tensions are escalating between venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, with Caracas condemning the exercises as an act of aggression [[1]]. The exercises, conducted november 16-21, involved U.S. forces and have reignited long-standing concerns regarding regional stability and the complex relationship between Venezuela and the United States, which has previously labeled the Venezuelan government a terrorist network [[1]]. Both nations maintain a important military presence in the area, and commercial air travel has been warned of potential hazards [[3]].
Venezuela’s defense minister has condemned recent joint military exercises between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago as an act of aggression, escalating tensions in the Caribbean. The exercises, which took place between November 16 and 21, come amid strained relations between Caracas and Washington, and raise concerns about regional stability.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López criticized the government of Trinidad and Tobago for allowing its territory to be used for what he described as “instruments for death and massive destruction of peoples.” He shared his statement in a video posted on social media, expressing dismay at the presence of U.S. forces on the island.
The intensification of U.S. military practices in Trinidad and Tobago follows the docking of the USS Gravely, a U.S. destroyer equipped with guided missiles, in Port of Spain last week. This development has further fueled tensions between Venezuela and its Caribbean neighbor.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of “mortgaging” her country to threaten Venezuela by “hosting a military force” near its borders. Maduro warned that Persad-Bissessar “is going to fare very badly,” characterizing her actions as “false steps against the peace of her country and the region.”
Persad-Bissessar defended the exercises, stating they are part of a “deep and lasting” security alliance with Washington. She asserted that the collaboration has contributed to reducing the trafficking of arms, drugs, and people, and has improved the preparedness of Trinidad and Tobago’s defense forces. The exercises are conducted under the terms of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the two countries, which was renewed in December 2024.
In a social media post, Persad-Bissessar insisted that “the territory of Trinidad and Tobago will not be used to launch any attack against the people of Venezuela.”
Padrino López also claimed that citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are “disgusted and disturbed” by the presence of the U.S. Navy, believing the exercises are “completely deliberate to threaten Venezuela.” The development underscores growing regional tensions and the potential for further escalation. Read more about related developments here.
EFE.
