Venezuela – In a new escalation of regional tensions, Venezuela announced the suspension of all gas agreements signed with Trinidad and Tobago. This came after Trinidad and Tobago hosted a US warship in one of its ports, a move Caracas considered a direct provocation and a threat to its national security.
A statement issued by the Venezuelan government explained that the decision comes “in defense of national sovereignty and in rejection of any foreign military presence near our borders.” It emphasized that economic cooperation cannot continue in the face of veiled military threats.
For its part, the Trinidad and Tobago government has yet to issue an official comment. Observers, however, have emphasized that this move could reshuffle the cards on energy cooperation in the Caribbean, particularly with joint gas exploration projects off the coast of Venezuela.
Analysts see the move as a political message from Caracas to Washington, stating that “US military influence in the region will not go unanswered.” This comes amid growing tensions between Venezuela and the United States over the oil issue and economic sanctions.
