The Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, reacted this Monday to the military exercises that the United States performed in Trinidad and Tobago as part of the naval operation carried out under the argument of combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea.
Through a video broadcast on his Telegram channel, the official He emphasized: “Do not make the mistake of inventing false positives. Do not make the mistake of violating our national sovereignty. We are called to defend our homeland.”
In turn, he accused the Island of being a “victim today of North American imperialism” and pointed out that the country “lends its territory” as “a foreign military base threatening the peace” of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Venezuelan government organized a series of demonstrations to reject the US maneuvers in Trinidad territory. The protests began this Monday and, according to the Executive, will continue during the week. The Vice President Delcy Rodríguez He denounced that the neighboring country “lends its territory for a war.”
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago denied Caracas’ accusations. Through a statement, he clarified that the operations of the US Navy in its waters – focused, according to his government, on the fight against drug trafficking – are not intended to generate tensions or provoke Venezuela.
On Sunday the destroyer USS Gravely, the United States Navyarrived in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago, to carry out military maneuvers that will last until October 30, as confirmed by official sources.
Nicolás Maduro assured that the United States naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea seeks to destabilize his government and seize Venezuela’s natural resources.
With information from Efe.
