Venezuela's Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, warned on Wednesday that his country will respond if Trinidad and Tobago allows its territory to be used to launch attacks against Venezuela.
"Ma'am, try to be sober when you hear this, look at me closely, if anything happens to us here in Venezuela, you know what will occur, be fully certain of that. And we are not talking about the people of Trinidad and Tobago," Cabello assured.
These statements come amid rising regional tensions due to the increased military presence of the United States in the Caribbean and Washington's threats against the regime of Nicolas Maduro.
Also, after Trinidad and Tobago authorized American military aircraft to use their airports.
During an event broadcast on the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Cabello asserted that Venezuela "does not fight with anyone," but stated that the country will be compelled to act if there are aggressions from Trinidadian territory.
According to the official, the territory of Trinidad and Tobago is already being used against Venezuela, a situation that—he stated—would not have the support of the people of that country, with whom Caracas has historically maintained peaceful relations.
The statements come after the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, defended her country's military cooperation with the United States, stating that it is the “best defense mechanism” currently available.
The leader emphasized that she is not seeking a conflict with Venezuela, but that she has the duty to protect the Trinitarian population.
The United States has deployed Marines on the island of Tobago, where it has also installed a radar system. In addition, U.S. military aircraft are authorized to use airports in the Caribbean nation, which is neighboring Venezuela.
The situation has raised concerns in the regional context. This Monday, the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Carla Barnett, called for unity among the 15 member countries in the face of what she described as "unprecedented adverse geopolitical winds" affecting the region.
The statement comes after an exchange of accusations between Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting internal divisions within Caricom regarding the stance towards the United States and Venezuela.
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