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The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has sent a powerful message to the region and to Nicolás Maduro's regime by publicly supporting the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean Sea.
The decision, which has been interpreted as a strategic shift in regional policy, further complicates the geopolitical landscape for Venezuela, according to the agency EFE.
In the midst of an unprecedented surge in violence associated with drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations, Persad-Bissessar stated that her country will provide "without hesitation" access to Trinidadian territory if Washington requests it to address a potential Venezuelan attack against Guyana.
"If Maduro's regime launches any attack against the Guyanese people or invades Guyanese territory, and the U.S. government requests access to Trinidadian territory to defend the people of Guyana, my government will grant it without reservation," the leader stated in a televised speech this weekend.
A direct warning to the Maduro regime
The Prime Minister's statement comes at a time of heightened tension in the region, marked by the deployment of U.S. destroyers and amphibious warfare ships, such as the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson, in waters near Venezuela.
The operation's declared objective is to combat drug cartels, particularly the so-called Cartel of the Suns, which governments in the region and the United States directly link to the leadership of Chavismo.
Persad-Bissessar justified the support for Washington by stating that Trinidad and Tobago has been a victim of drug trafficking, human trafficking, and arms trafficking for two decades.
"Trinidad and Tobago has been engulfed in blood and violence over the past 20 years due to drug trafficking, human trafficking, and firearms. Caribbean countries, and particularly my country, have experienced a massive increase in transnational crime and gang activity," he stated.
Violence and organized crime in the Caribbean
According to figures published by Insight Crime, Trinidad and Tobago recorded 625 murders in the last year, with a homicide rate of 45.7%, of which 43.6% is linked to gang-related activities.
This scenario of insecurity has been replicated in other islands such as Suriname, Barbados, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, which have also experienced an alarming increase in crime.
In light of this crisis, the prime minister stressed that small island states do not have the necessary resources to combat drug cartels, which she believes justifies support for foreign military operations
"We simply do not have the financial and military resources necessary to confront the drug cartels."
Additionally, he warned that criminal networks have managed to infiltrate power structures in the Caribbean.
"The cartels have managed to infiltrate the upper echelons of Caribbean societies, which has allowed them to exert significant influence over political, legislative, media, banking, security, and economic decisions," he said.
The dispute over Esequibo and the role of Guyana
The Trinidadian government's stance reaffirms the regional alliance in support of Guyana, a country that is engaged in a historical territorial dispute with Venezuela over the Esequibo, a region of 160,000 km² rich in natural resources.
Although administered by Guyana, Caracas claims it as its own and has intensified its aggressions in recent months, including holding a referendum to annex it in December 2023.
Guyana has responded by strengthening its international cooperation.
In a recent statement, the Guyanese Government expressed its commitment to regional security and denounced the threat posed by transnational organized crime, while directly pointing to the Cártel de los Soles as a destabilizing actor
"This organization has the capacity to surpass state institutions, undermine democracy, corrupt the rule of law, and threaten human dignity and development," Georgetown warned.
Maduro entrenches himself
In response to the increase in international pressure, the Maduro regime ordered the deployment of 4.5 million militiamen throughout the country and denounced an alleged conspiracy orchestrated from Guyana with support from the American oil company ExxonMobil.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry denounced Guyana's statement as "miserable" and accused Georgetown of acting in the interests of foreign powers.
However, the response from Washington was emphatic: the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the United States is prepared to "use all its power" to stop the flow of drugs in the region.
International support and new alliances
The support from Trinidad and Tobago has been regarded as a strategic decision that could facilitate future military operations in the Caribbean.
The Cuban-American congressman Carlos Giménez, a member of the Armed Services Committee, publicly thanked the gesture from the Trinidadian government.
At the same time, other Caribbean governments are beginning to align themselves with this new strategy.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, recently proposed declaring gangs as terrorist organizations, which would pave the way for a collaborative approach with international actors.
A dual message from Trinidad and Tobago
Despite her support for Washington, Persad-Bissessar wanted to clarify that Trinidad and Tobago maintains good relations with the Venezuelan people
"We have always had good relations with the Venezuelan people, and that will continue to be the case," he emphasized, making it clear that his stance is framed within the fight against crime, not in animosity towards the Venezuelan citizenry.
The official also called for peace.
"We hope that common sense and peace prevail," he emphasized, while reaffirming that nothing will prevent his government from warmly welcoming U.S. aid to combat the cartels.
Frequently Asked Questions about Geopolitical Tensions in the Caribbean
Why does Trinidad and Tobago support the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean?
Trinidad and Tobago supports the U.S. military deployment to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, which have severely affected the region over the past two decades. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar justified this decision by stating that the country lacks the necessary resources to confront the drug cartels alone.
What is the role of the United States in the current situation with Venezuela?
The United States has deployed military forces in the Caribbean with the stated goal of combating drug trafficking, particularly against the Cartel of the Suns, which they link to the regime of Nicolás Maduro. This deployment includes destroyers, spy planes, and submarines, and is part of a broader strategy to pressure the Venezuelan government.
How does the dispute over Esequibo affect tensions between Venezuela and its neighbors?
The dispute over Esequibo is a territorial conflict that has heightened tensions between Venezuela and Guyana. This territory, rich in natural resources, is administered by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela. Recent actions by Venezuela, such as holding a referendum to annex the region, have intensified hostilities, with the United States backing Guyana.
What has been Nicolás Maduro's response to the U.S. military deployment?
The Maduro regime has ordered the deployment of 4.5 million militia members across the country in response to the increasing international pressure. Furthermore, it has denounced an alleged conspiracy orchestrated from Guyana with the backing of the U.S., calling Washington's actions an imperialist threat.
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