Guyana and Trinidad, two of the Caribbean Community’s most resource-rich and consequential countries, are part of an international alliance supporting alleged American efforts to eliminate drug trafficking from Venezuela through a current military blockade of the South American nation and threats against the administration of President Nicolas Maduro.
In the case of Guyana, officials argue that the country has every right to line up behind Washington because of decades of threats of military invasion by Venezuela to enforce a claim that Guyana’s western Essequibo Region, comprising two thirds of the landmass, actually belongs to Venezuela. This is so because the US, through its Florida-based Southern Military Command, has persistently announced plans to come to the rescue of Guyana should Venezuela carry through with any military action against its eastern neighbor.
In the case of Trinidad, authorities say the twin island nation with Tobago is under increasing criminal siege from Venezuelan gangs operating in the country. Just last week, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said authorities are preparing to deport at least 200 criminal convicts and suspects back to Venezuela while Maduro’s cabinet has accused Trinidad of allowing armed mercenaries to enter the country from Trinidad, charges the administration has denied.
As the new week began, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López warned the Caricom nation not to allow the US to use its territory as a base to attack Venezuela as American warships and fighter jets await orders from Washington on the next steps to allegedly eliminate international drug trafficking. Washington has already put out a $50 million bounty for the arrest of Maduro for international drug trafficking. Padrino Lopez said at the weekend that both Guyana and Trinidad “will receive a response” if they allow America troops.
The regime of President Nicolas Maduro has warned Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana that if they lend themselves to an attack against Venezuela, “they will receive a response. To the T & T government who has lent themselves for this game, I say, well, if they (US) attack us from their (TT) territory, you will also receive an answer. An answer, and all will be legitimate defense,” he threatened.
Persad Bissessar has already made it plain and clear that the republic will indeed host American troops if Venezuela attacks fellow regional bloc member Guyana militarily, even complaining that the US has not made any formal request for such assistance so far.
“It is necessary to warn that if an attack against Venezuela is launched from those territories, we will respond proportionally, in legitimate defense of our sovereignty. To those who sent a written statement from the United States, I am referring to the governments of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the government of Trinidad and Tobago, who have played along. I say to you, well, if they attack from your territory, you will also receive a response, and that is legitimate defense. You already know what our profile is regarding respect for the sovereignty of peoples. You already know what our profile is regarding respect for human rights. You know what our profile is regarding respect for international law. You know what our profile is regarding respect for the self-determination of peoples, and you know what our profile is regarding national independence,” he said
As an indication of their growing closeness, Guyanese authorities a week ago, permitted two American fighter jets to overfly and salute the inauguration ceremony of President Irfaan Ali following general elections at the beginning of September. Both countries have in recent weeks come out publicly to support American action against organized crime, including drug and weapons smuggling and human trafficking among other ills.
Regional leaders and foreign ministers are expected to discuss the increasing tensions in the South Caribbean when most head to New York to attend annual United Nations General Assembly sessions later this month. The region has long lobbied for the area to be treated as a zone of peace.
Venezuelan authorities at the weekend also complained that the US military had forcibly boarded a regular tuna fishing vessel in local waters, roughing up its crew without provocation.