Venezuela’s relations with close neighbors Guyana and Trinidad tanked further over the weekend, with stark warnings from the defense ministry of serious consequences if authorities allow the US to use their territories as a base to attack the South American nation.
The warnings from Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López appeared to represent an escalation of tensions both with Venezuela and its Caribbean neighbors, as well as further rapid deterioration of engagements with the US.
The warnings came as Caracas accused the US military of forcibly boarding a Venezuelan tuna fishing vessel operating in local waters and of roughing up the crew. This came just days after the military had blown a Venezuelan vessel out of the water, killing all 11 men on board, for allegedly fetching cocaine bales to Trinidad.
Now General Lopez is directly warning the two CARICOM member nations of direct consequences if they allow their territories to be used as landing areas to attack Venezuela. And while both Guyana and Trinidad have unapologetically lined up on the side of the US in its alleged war against drugs rather than regime change in Venezuela, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar of Trinidad has gone so far out as to offer her twin island republic as a base to defend against Venezuela if it carries through with threats military annex an area in Guyana that it has long claimed as its own.
As tensions rise, Trinidad’s head of government has already announced plans to deport at least 200 criminal convicts and suspects back to Venezuela. Maduro’s cabinet has, in turn, accused Trinidad of allowing armed mercenaries to enter the country from Trinidad, charges the administration has denied.
President Nicolas Maduro’s administration has warned Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana that if they lend themselves to an attack against Venezuela, “they will receive a response,” López said. “To the T & T government who has lent themselves for this game, I say, well, if they (US) attack us from their (TT) territory, you will also receive an answer. An answer, and all will be legitimate defense.”
He added: “It is necessary to warn that if an attack against Venezuela is launched from those territories, we will respond proportionally, in legitimate defense of our sovereignty.
“To those who sent a written statement from the United States, I am referring to the governments of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the government of Trinidad and Tobago, who have played along,” he said. “I say to you, well, if they attack from your territory, you will also receive a response, and that is legitimate defense. You already know what our profile is regarding respect for the sovereignty of peoples. You already know what our profile is regarding respect for human rights. You know what our profile is regarding respect for international law. You know what our profile is regarding respect for the self-determination of peoples, and you know what our profile is regarding national independence.”
As an indication of their growing closeness, Guyanese authorities recently permitted two American fighter jets to fly over and salute the inauguration ceremony of President Irfaan Ali following general elections at the beginning of September. Both countries have, in recent weeks, come out publicly to support American action against organized crime, including drug and weapons smuggling and human trafficking, among other ills.
Regional leaders and foreign ministers are expected to discuss the increasing tensions in the South Caribbean when most head to New York to attend annual United Nations General Assembly sessions. The region has long lobbied for the area to be treated as a zone of peace.
The US recently placed a $50 million bounty on the head of President Maduro, calling him an international drug trafficker and illegitimate head of government through rigged elections.
