Caracas/Port of Spain — October 28, 2025 — Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago have plunged to their lowest point in years after Caracas officially declared Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar a persona non grata. The move, approved by Venezuela’s National Assembly, bars the Trinidadian leader from entering the country and intensifies the ongoing feud over United States military operations in the Caribbean Sea.
The declaration marks a dramatic escalation in the political standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Persad-Bissessar, who has openly backed the growing US naval presence in the region. The announcement came just hours after Venezuelan state media aired footage of the US Navy destroyer USS Gravely docking in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago — an act Caracas called a “provocation.”
Diplomatic Breakdown Over US Military Activity
The Venezuelan National Assembly’s decision follows weeks of rising tension sparked by the US military’s anti-drug operations in Caribbean waters. Persad-Bissessar has been one of the few Caribbean leaders to publicly support Washington’s campaign, including a series of missile strikes on boats allegedly linked to narcotics trafficking.
“I am proud that the US Navy is taking strong, decisive action against traffickers,” Persad-Bissessar said earlier this month. “The drug trade has killed our youth. I have no sympathy for traffickers — the US military should eliminate them all.”
Her remarks triggered outrage in Caracas, where President Maduro condemned the US operations as “illegal acts of aggression and imperial interference.” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, denounced the bombings as “an immoral and unlawful military threat hanging over our heads.”
So far, the Pentagon has acknowledged 13 missile strikes targeting 14 small boats across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 57 deaths. International legal experts have warned that the attacks could constitute extrajudicial killings, violating international maritime law, especially since the US has provided no verified evidence linking the victims to drug trafficking.
Venezuela Retaliates: Gas Deal Suspended, Borders Tightened
The diplomatic fallout reached a breaking point on Monday when President Maduro suspended a major natural gas agreement with Trinidad and Tobago. The deal, once a cornerstone of energy cooperation between the two nations, was cancelled after Port of Spain agreed to host US naval vessels as part of the Trump administration’s Caribbean deployment.
“Kamla Persad-Bissessar has turned Trinidad and Tobago into an aircraft carrier for the American empire,” Maduro declared during a televised address. “We will not tolerate military aggression from our neighbours disguised as cooperation.”
According to AFP, Trinidad and Tobago’s government is now considering a mass deportation of undocumented Venezuelan migrants in retaliation. An internal memorandum leaked to the press revealed that the country’s Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander ordered authorities to suspend the release of detained “illegal immigrants,” citing an imminent “mass deportation exercise.”
The announcement has sparked human rights concerns, as thousands of Venezuelans fleeing their country’s economic crisis have sought refuge in Trinidad and Tobago over the past decade.
US Military Build-Up Raises Regional Concerns
The US has significantly expanded its military footprint across the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico in recent months, with seven warships, a submarine, and multiple fighter jets now deployed near Venezuelan waters. Officials in Washington insist that the mission is focused on counter-narcotics enforcement, but critics see it as a geopolitical maneuver to undermine Maduro’s government.
“The pattern is clear — the Trump administration is using military pressure to destabilize Venezuela,” said regional analyst María Luisa Torres of the Latin American Policy Institute. “By rallying allies like Trinidad and Tobago, the US is trying to legitimize its presence and isolate Caracas.”
The intensity of US operations has escalated in October, with six additional strikes announced in just the past week — some extending into Colombian and Panamanian maritime zones.
Regional Fallout and Political Calculations
The diplomatic crisis threatens to divide the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as member states balance relations between the US and Venezuela. While leaders in Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Grenada have expressed unease with the US bombing campaign, Persad-Bissessar’s government remains steadfast in its endorsement of Washington’s actions.
“This is not about politics; it’s about protecting our shores and people,” the Trinidadian prime minister said when asked about the fallout. “Venezuela can keep its threats — I will not apologize for defending my nation’s security.”
In response, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry summoned Trinidad’s ambassador in Caracas for consultations, while withdrawing its own envoy from Port of Spain.
Observers warn that the confrontation could spill over into economic and humanitarian realms. Venezuela’s suspension of the cross-border gas project, which supplied vital energy resources to Trinidad, is likely to drive up fuel prices and disrupt industrial operations in the island nation.
Global Reactions and Next Steps
The United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), and CARICOM have all called for restraint and renewed diplomatic dialogue. Yet analysts remain skeptical, noting that both sides appear unwilling to de-escalate.
“The rhetoric has hardened on both ends,” said Dr. Jorge Mendez, an expert on Caribbean geopolitics. “For Maduro, this is about sovereignty and anti-imperialism. For Persad-Bissessar, it’s about asserting regional influence and aligning with Washington. Neither wants to appear weak.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has confirmed that additional naval assets could soon be deployed “to ensure maritime stability,” suggesting the standoff is far from over.
📊 Summary: What’s at Stake
- Venezuela declares Trinidad PM persona non grata over support for US military actions.
- Major gas deal suspended as diplomatic and economic relations deteriorate.
- Trinidad considers deporting Venezuelan migrants, escalating humanitarian risks.
- US naval operations expand, raising fears of confrontation in the Caribbean.
- Regional divisions deepen, with CARICOM states split over how to respond.
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