(L-R) President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Venezuela has suspended all energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago just one day after a US warship docked on the island amid tension between Washington and Caracas.
In a television appearance on Monday evening, president of the Spanish-speaking South American country, Nicolás Maduro, said his government was “suspending all energy co-operation with Trinidad and Tobago.”
He said the decision was taken in response to Trinidad’s “adherence to a US aggression plan”.
He accused Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, of transforming her country “into an aircraft carrier of the American empire against Venezuela”.
Persad-Bissessar has pushed back and defiantly declared that Trinidad does not need Venezuelan gas, and never did.
“Our future does not depend on Venezuela and never has,” she told the Trinidad Newsday via WhatsApp. “We have our plans and projects to grow our economy both within the energy and non-energy sectors.”
She said unlike the previous government, her administration has not placed all its eggs in one basket.
“The last PNM government mistakenly placed all their hopes in the Dragon project – we have not done so,” Persad-Bissessar stated. “Therefore, we are not susceptible to any blackmail from the Venezuelans for political support. We continue to maintain peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people.”
The two countries first agreed to jointly drill for gas in 2018 but the Dragon Project, as it is called, has been long delayed and complicated by US sanctions on Venezuela.
Just last month US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that while the US supports the project, it wants to ensure it will not provide significant benefit to Maduro’s government.
On Sunday, the USS Gravely, a destroyer fitted with guided missiles, arrived in Trinidad to conduct joint exercises with Trinidad’s navy.
Authorities in Venezuela described the move as a provocation.
I endorse the suspension
How she end up in that tie-up tho
Energy cooperation falling apart right before COP30 discussions. That’s bad optics for CARICOM unity we should be strengthening regional energy independence, not fighting over it.
Kamla too brave tell Maduro straight she don’t need him. But careful, energy diplomacy in the Caribbean is all about pride. Same thing Antigua face when we stand firm with big nations.
My spirit never take that lady!
But i agree with Venezuela. I cannot be feeding you and you trying to undermine me
Political posturing aside, energy security is critical. T&T can’t rely on Venezuela indefinitely, this shows why diversification matters.
this situation escalating fast. If Venezuela cutting energy ties over a single US warship visit, imagine the tension when more naval exercises start in the Caribbean
Allu see that lady they call Kamla. That is all i will say
These are the ripple effects of the US military presence in the region. Antigua and Barbuda better stay neutral one photo-op could cost us major partnerships.
This is why PM Browne always says small islands need to speak with one voice. If the US and Venezuela start flexing muscles, it’s the little nations like us that’ll feel the shockwaves.