Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar on Friday downplayed warnings from Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez against any perceived aggression toward her country, emphasizing that the safety of Trinidadians and Tobagonians remains her top priority.
Rodríguez issued the warning after Venezuela announced the deployment of the Independence 200 Plan, which mobilizes the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and militias across “284 battle fronts” to ensure the country’s “independence and peace.” She accused Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Guyana, of acting as “vassals” of the United States and urged them not to participate in what she described as “perverse plans of aggression” against Venezuela.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Persad Bissessar smiled and dismissed the threats. “We have no intention of invading Venezuela or stepping on Venezuelan soil. Nothing of this sort is happening,” she said. “My priority is the people of Trinidad and Tobago. T&T first.”
Persad Bissessar reiterated her support for U.S. military operations in Caribbean waters aimed at curbing narco trafficking. She recently praised a U.S. strike on a suspected drug-carrying vessel, which reportedly killed 11 members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. “I have no sympathy for traffickers. They should be stopped,” she said.
Addressing concerns about potential aggression, the Prime Minister stressed that Trinidad and Tobago’s government has had no discussions about invading Venezuela. “It’s just fear-mongering,” she said. “However, should Venezuela invade Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago will step forward in defence of our cousins, brothers, and sisters in CARICOM.”
The statement comes ahead of Persad Bissessar’s scheduled attendance at the United Nations General Assembly later this month.
