The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Madurothis Saturday called six regions in the east of the country to “a vigil and a permanent march in the streets” in response to the announced resumption of United States military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago, amid growing tensions between Caracas and Washington.
In an event in the capital, the president called on “all popular, social, political, military and police forces” to “not to fall into provocations at any time, but to mobilize with patriotic fervor” in rejection of “imperialist ships” and “military threats”, as well as what he described as “irresponsible exercises” in Trinidadian waters.
Specifically, Ripe He called on the states of Bolívar, Delta Amacuro, Monagas, Anzoátegui, Nueva Esparta and Sucre, close to the island of Trinidad, to mobilize “in perfect popular-military-police fusion” and “with the flag of Venezuela held high.”
“The government of Trinidad and Tobago has once again announced irresponsible exercises, lending its waters off the coast of the state of Sucre for military exercises that are intended to be threatening to a republic like Venezuela that does not allow itself to be threatened by anyone. (…) The people of Trinidad and Tobago will see if they continue to tolerate the use of their waters and lands to seriously threaten the peace of the Caribbean,” he said.
Tension escalates in the Caribbean
“The United States government intends to bomb and invade a Christian townour people, what is that? (…) do you want to come and kill a Christian people here in South America?” added the head of state, who led a swearing-in ceremony for the so-called Comprehensive Base Bolivarian Committees (CBBI), which are Chavismo work teams located in the streets of the country.
As confirmed on Friday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, Sean Sobers, the US Navy will return to the Caribbean territory, which is about 11 kilometers from the Venezuelan coast, to continue its military exercises with the Trinidadian Defense Force (TTDF).
Sobers’ announcement comes after the Trinidadian Attorney General, John Jeremie, announced this Thursday that the soldiers of Unit 22 of the Marine Expedition will intensify their practices in that country from this Sunday until next Friday, November 21.
Venezuela has already three months in permanent military mobilization throughout its territory in response to what he denounces as a “threat” from the United States, in reference to the naval and air deployment that Washington has maintained since August in the Caribbean near the South American nation.
Chavismo denounced this Saturday that the United States seeks to “trigger violent actions and sow a conflict” in the Caribbean with the military operation ‘Lance of the South’, announced on Thursday by Washington, under the argument of combating drug trafficking from Latin America, in what appears to increase the pressure of the Donald Trump Administration on Venezuela and Colombia.
