The Caribbean's Role in Trump's Venezuela Coup
As the Trump administration ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and imprisoned him on US soil, the region is grappling with the implications of this move. Trinidad and Tobago, a founding member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), has been at the forefront of this crisis, its Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar openly aligning with Trump's administration.
The strategic location of Trinidad and Tobago, only 7 miles from Venezuela, made it an ideal hub for US military jets and troops to launch strikes on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The US has launched at least 21 airstrikes, killing over 80 people, including several Trinidadian citizens.
Persad-Bissessar's support for US actions is rooted in her desire to secure resources from Venezuela, particularly gas. Her government had long discussed developing Venezuela's Dragon Field near Tobago waters, but Trump's administration offered a more lucrative deal. Persad-Bissessar has stated that she wants to "negotiate with Trump" to secure Venezuela's gas.
However, this move has put Trinidad and Tobago at odds with other Caribbean countries, which are wary of the US's intentions. The region is still reeling from Hurricane Maria, and many leaders are hesitant to speak out against Trump's administration due to concerns about retaliation.
Caricom as a whole has taken a cautious approach, failing to release a joint statement condemning the US actions on their turf. Peter Wickham, director of Caribbean Development Research Services, believes that this is a result of the region's desire to avoid confrontation with a powerful and interventionist nation like the US.
Wickham notes that Trinidad and Tobago's alignment with Trump is not just about securing resources but also about its position in the region. The country's close proximity to Venezuela has made it vulnerable to US pressure, and many leaders are now hesitant to speak out against Trump's administration due to fears of retaliation.
As elections approach in several Caribbean islands, Wickham warns that this crisis has changed everything. Leaders are now asking themselves if they should call elections when they can be on a US hitlist. The region is gripped with fear and uncertainty, wondering what the future holds.
In conclusion, the Caribbean's role in Trump's Venezuela coup is complex and multifaceted. Trinidad and Tobago's alignment with Trump's administration has put the country at odds with other regional players, while the US's actions have raised concerns about its intentions and the region's vulnerability to intervention. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the Caribbean will not be able to afford to remain silent in the face of such powerful global politics.
As the Trump administration ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and imprisoned him on US soil, the region is grappling with the implications of this move. Trinidad and Tobago, a founding member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), has been at the forefront of this crisis, its Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar openly aligning with Trump's administration.
The strategic location of Trinidad and Tobago, only 7 miles from Venezuela, made it an ideal hub for US military jets and troops to launch strikes on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The US has launched at least 21 airstrikes, killing over 80 people, including several Trinidadian citizens.
Persad-Bissessar's support for US actions is rooted in her desire to secure resources from Venezuela, particularly gas. Her government had long discussed developing Venezuela's Dragon Field near Tobago waters, but Trump's administration offered a more lucrative deal. Persad-Bissessar has stated that she wants to "negotiate with Trump" to secure Venezuela's gas.
However, this move has put Trinidad and Tobago at odds with other Caribbean countries, which are wary of the US's intentions. The region is still reeling from Hurricane Maria, and many leaders are hesitant to speak out against Trump's administration due to concerns about retaliation.
Caricom as a whole has taken a cautious approach, failing to release a joint statement condemning the US actions on their turf. Peter Wickham, director of Caribbean Development Research Services, believes that this is a result of the region's desire to avoid confrontation with a powerful and interventionist nation like the US.
Wickham notes that Trinidad and Tobago's alignment with Trump is not just about securing resources but also about its position in the region. The country's close proximity to Venezuela has made it vulnerable to US pressure, and many leaders are now hesitant to speak out against Trump's administration due to fears of retaliation.
As elections approach in several Caribbean islands, Wickham warns that this crisis has changed everything. Leaders are now asking themselves if they should call elections when they can be on a US hitlist. The region is gripped with fear and uncertainty, wondering what the future holds.
In conclusion, the Caribbean's role in Trump's Venezuela coup is complex and multifaceted. Trinidad and Tobago's alignment with Trump's administration has put the country at odds with other regional players, while the US's actions have raised concerns about its intentions and the region's vulnerability to intervention. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the Caribbean will not be able to afford to remain silent in the face of such powerful global politics.
this whole thing with Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela is so complicated. i feel like they're being played by trump's admin who really just wants that gas 
persad-bissessar needs to negotiate from a stronger position, not just beg for scraps 
also why are other caribbean countries staying silent? isn't it time for them to speak up & stand together against this kind of interventionism 
. It seems like a lot of countries are scared to speak up against Trump's actions because they're worried about repercussions 
. Trinidad and Tobago taking the US' side just because they want to secure resources from Venezuela is pretty shady 
.
. We need to stand up for our leaders who are trying to do what's right for their people, even if it means going against powerful global politics 
.
. It seems like the US is playing a pretty big game here, and we should be paying close attention to see how this unfolds 
. One thing's for sure: the Caribbean won't be able to ignore this situation forever 
. And now other Caribbean countries are too scared to speak out against Trump's actions because of fear of retaliation 
. It's like they're all trapped in some kind of geopolitical game and nobody knows who's winning or losing 
It's all about the gas, I get it, but at what cost? The region is already reeling from Hurricane Maria, now they gotta deal with US airstrikes killing their own citizens? 
21 airstrikes and over 80 people dead?! Unbelievable. And Persad-Bissessar thinks she can just "negotiate" with Trump? 
Like that's gonna happen. The whole thing is just shady, especially since Caricom isn't even standing up for its own member states. It's like they're all just too scared to speak out against the US. 
. I think it's pretty suspicious that they're all about securing resources, especially gas, for their own gain 
. And can you blame them though? They're only 7 miles from Venezuela and have a huge interest in keeping the peace 
. But at the same time, it's not cool that they're aligning with Trump's admin without considering how this might affect other Caribbean countries 
, but I'm sure there are some folks who aren't happy about it 
.