Trinidad and Tobago has denied any involvement in the United States operation that allegedly led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3.
The denial came in a brief statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela,” the ministry said.
The statement comes after weeks of Venezuelan claims that increased Trinidadian cooperation with the US military was the precursor for an invasion.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been a vocal supporter of US operations against alleged narco traffickers.
In a statement last September, Persad-Bissessar said the illegal drug and gun trade has significantly impacted T&T.
“The pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the US military should kill them all violently,” she said.
The early morning operation against Maduro was announced by US President Donald Trump on social media, shortly after a series of explosions were reported in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States had carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela and its leader.
“This operation was done in conjunction with US law enforcement,” Trump said.
Trump claimed Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been removed from the country.
US media reported the operation was carried out by the US Army’s Delta Force, an elite special forces unit.
Delta Force was previously used in 1989 to capture Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega.
Trump is expected to hold a news conference at 11 am at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The actions on January 3 represent an escalation of US operations against Venezuela that began in September last year, when the United States started bombing vessels it described as drug-trafficking boats operating in the Caribbean.
Those earlier strikes reportedly resulted in at least 90 deaths, including two individuals believed to be Trinidad and Tobago nationals, Rishi Samaroo and Chad “Charpo” Joseph.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns and of working with drug-trafficking networks and gangs designated as terrorist organisations.
The United States previously offered a US$50 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Maduro is facing an inditement from drug trafficking in the US.
He has denied the allegations.
Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez said the government was seeking confirmation of the president’s status and whereabouts.
“We don’t know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and the First Lady. We demand immediate proof of life from Trump,” Rodríguez said during an appearance on state media.
Russia has condemned the US actions.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was deeply concerned by the US actions and their potential impact on the Venezuelan people.
“The justifications put forward for these actions have no factual basis,” the ministry said.
The ministry called for Venezuelans to be the ones to determine their future free of outside influence and for Latin America to remain a zone of peace.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also condemned the US actions against its neighbour.
He described Washington’s actions as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America and said they would result in a humanitarian crisis.
He has ordered the deployment of military forces to the Venezuelan border.
Leave a Reply