Venezuelan Government Condemns Trinidad and Tobago’s Support for US Military Deployment
Diosdado Cabello, First Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), condemned Trinidad and Tobago’s endorsement of the United States’ military resource deployment in the Caribbean near Venezuela’s territorial waters as shameful, reports 24brussels.
At a press conference aired on the state-run Venezolana de Televisión, Cabello asserted that Venezuela is not an aggressor, stating that it is Venezuelans who are actually under attack.
In relation to the ongoing territorial dispute with Guyana, Cabello emphasized, “What is clear is that Venezuela’s sun rises in the Essequibo; that is not up for discussion with anyone,” referring to claims over the Essequibo region.
On Sunday, Trinidad and Tobago’s government publicly supported the US military deployment, citing concerns over “increased violence due to the presence of terrorist drug cartels” in the region.
Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad highlighted the inadequacy of small island states in handling drug-related threats and confirmed that should Venezuela attack Guyana, her government would grant the US access to its territory “without hesitation.”
In response to potential US naval patrols, supporters of the Venezuelan government rallied nationwide to enlist in the Bolivarian National Militia following a call from President Nicolás Maduro. The Venezuelan leader has mobilized 4.5 million militia members in light of the increased US reward for information leading to their capture, which now stands at $50 million.
