Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has warned Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago of retaliation if attacks against Venezuela are launched from their territories. In a video on Telegram, he emphasized that these countries would face a response in “legitimate defense.”
Padrino’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Caribbean, where U.S. military operations against narcotics trafficking have increased, which Caracas views as an attempt to undermine President Nicolás Maduro’s government. He accused the U.S. of intensifying aerial surveillance, claiming that U.S. aircraft are equipped to monitor Venezuelan territory in real time.
The warning follows Vice President Delcy Rodríguez labeling Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago as “vassals” of the U.S., urging them to avoid involvement in any aggression against Venezuela. Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar denied any collusion with the U.S., calling the allegations “alarmism.”
While Guyana has not officially responded to Padrino’s latest statement, it has previously supported U.S. counternarcotics efforts. The backdrop of these tensions includes the long-standing territorial dispute over the resource-rich Essequibo region, claimed by both Venezuela and Guyana.
In related news, U.S. President Donald Trump described Venezuela as a hub for narcotics smuggling and criminal migration, emphasizing a crackdown on gangs like the Tren de Aragua. He reiterated his opposition to the Maduro government’s actions, stating, “We don’t like what Venezuela is sending us.”
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