CARACAS, Venezuela, CMC – Venezuela Monday urged the Trinidad and Tobago government not to allow the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to be dragged into “a dirty war” involving the United States, warning “we will defend our sovereignty without hesitation.
“Venezuela will not fall into provocations, but no one is confused,” Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil said in a statement posted on Instagram, adding, “Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar must take responsibility for the Caribbean and for history: either sides with peace or sink into the CIA agenda”.
Last month, President Donald Trump ramped up the US military presence in the Caribbean Sea, ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.
A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser have also been allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.
Last Friday, the US said it is intensifying its military build-up in the Caribbean with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering the deployment of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and its carrier air wing, to the Caribbean.
The United States military has carried out deadly air strikes in Caribbean waters over the past few weeks against what Washington alleges are Caracas-backed drug traffickers. The Venezuelan government denies the charge, accusing the administration of being a threat to the peace and security of the whole region.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister has openly sided with Washington, saying that drug traffickers should be killed “violently” and has denied that Port of Spain is engaged in activities that will allow the United States to overthrow the Nicolas Maduro government in the South American country.
But following the arrival of the USS Gravely in Port of Spain on Sunday, Venezuela said it “has clearly informed the Government of Trinidad and Tobago about the CIA-led false flag operation: attacking an American military ship parked on that island and then blaming Venezuela, to justify an aggression against our country.
“It’s the same imperial script of the ship Maine and the Gulf of Tonkin: fabricate a conflict to impose interests outside our region,” according to the statement by Gil.
“In our territory, a criminal cell funded by the CIA linked to this covert operation is being dismantled. We hope that Trinidad and Tobago will do the right thing and not allow their territory to be used for maneuvers that threaten Caribbean peace.
“We respect the people of Trinidad and Tobago and trust their conscience to prevent their country from being dragged into a dirty war operation,” he said, insisting that Venezuela will not be provoked.
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