Venezuela Denounces US Maneuvers in Trinidad and Tobago as Provocation for War

Caracas denounced the docking of a US warship in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, calling it a "provocation" that could lead to war, amidst increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump on his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro.

Details of Military Provocation and US Pressure

• Warship Arrival: Authorities in the archipelago, located about 10 kilometers from Venezuela, announced the arrival of the US destroyer "USS Gravely" accompanied by a Marine unit, to officially participate in joint military exercises with the Trinidadian army.

• Multifaceted Escalation: This development coincides with:

  • The deployment of seven US warships in the Caribbean and one in the Gulf of Mexico as part of an operation to combat drug trafficking.

  • Trump's announcement authorizing the CIA to carry out secret operations on Venezuelan territory.

• Caracas's Reaction: The Venezuelan government strongly protested the destroyer's visit in an official statement, viewing it as a "military provocation by Trinidad and Tobago, in coordination with the US CIA, to instigate a war in the Caribbean region."

Mutual Accusations and Alleged Secret War

Washington accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of direct involvement in drug trafficking, a charge Maduro denies. Maduro argues that the US uses the fight against drugs as a pretext "to impose a regime change and seize Venezuela's large oil reserves."

Conversely, the Venezuelan government claimed it "captured a group of mercenaries" linked to the CIA, revealing they were preparing a "false flag attack aimed at provoking an all-out military confrontation" against Venezuela.

Trinidad and Tobago's Alignment with US Policy

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is currently led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a strong Trump supporter who has adopted anti-Venezuelan migrant and anti-"Venezuelan crime" rhetoric since taking office in May.

Since early September, the US has conducted ten air strikes, mostly in the Caribbean and some in the Pacific, against drug trafficking boats, resulting in at least 43 deaths, according to an AFP tally based on US figures. Trinidad and Tobago is investigating the possibility that two of its citizens were among six people killed in one such US strike in mid-October.