Caribbean nations divided as US/Venezuela tensions worsen
Caribbean governments are expressing mixed reactions amid a dramatic US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States on drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
Washington has indicated that the United States will exercise temporary control of Venezuela to oversee a political transition — a move that has raised serious concerns across the region.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called for calm and restraint, warning that military escalation in Venezuela poses risks to regional stability, security, and economic resilience, particularly for small island states already grappling with external shocks.
Trinidad & Tobago, one of the region’s few energy-producing states, has sought to distance itself from the U.S. action. Officials in Port of Spain stressed that the country was not involved in the operation and emphasised the need for stability in the southern Caribbean.
The BVI government has not issued an official response to the US intervention. However, the United Kingdom — which holds responsibility for the BVI’s external affairs — has adopted a cautious tone. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was not involved in the operation and that it was for the United States to justify its actions under international law, while stressing the importance of legality and multilateral engagement.
Meanwhile, Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull, Second District Representative, is the only member of the House of Assembly who has issued a statement on the issue, so far. He said he is troubled by the military takeover and the capture of Venezuela’s president. Turnbull warned that the use of force could deepen regional instability and urged respect for international law, dialogue, and democratic principles, noting the human cost such actions often carry.
Beyond politics, there may be wider implications for the Caribbean. Aside from Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, the Caribbean is largely dependent on oil-rich nations for energy imports. Historically, the region experiences economic instability when global oil supply chains are disrupted, leading to higher fuel prices, increased transportation costs, and pressure on already fragile economies.
As developments continue to unfold in Venezuela, Caribbean leaders remain cautious, balancing diplomatic principles with economic realities in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical climate
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( uncle Donny ), is sending a STRONG message to these drug cartels , he ain’t ” TEKIN ” NO PRISONERS , KEEP YO DRUGS FOR YOURSELVES , I AGREE WITH UNCLE DONNY , BLAST YO ARZES OUTA DE WATERS
He is not after the drug cartel; he is after Venezuela’s oil. Don’t get distracted. Venezuela produces the most oil in the entire world; that is what the USA is accustomed to doing: going into countries and seizing their resources and calling it their own. Next on their list are Gaza, Greenland, Nigeria, and Canada.
You are the fool! Venezuela may have the largest oil reserves in the world, but it only supplies a tiny fraction of what the world produces
Most likely but Maduro should have weighed his options or find his conscience…too much to lose so why play the illegal drug game with the possibility of your countrymen paying the price…the fact that Andrew ,appeal not withstanding will have finger pointing at him by the,Maduro kerfluffel could very well be an upset..certainly he (Maduro) has the upfront and personal scoop on the head honchos of the islands whose hands are as dirty as his…I am of the opinion that the pot just start boiling..same time he Maduro on court hoping for mercy,Andrew back in the same Court looking for a merciful ease from the same Court and the whole world is tuned in..Time for true,is hand in hand with Karma.
Donny should focus on the US people who buy the drugs first. Stop the demand and the supply will stop too. But drugs are just the excuse for his imperialism and resource grab.
You are just a stupid as he is.
need a tissue because he won again
We must ask an honest question: where was the strong objection when Maduro positioned troops along the border of Guyana—a CARICOM member— over oil? That moment passed with little to no outrage on his actions.
We have to move away from viewing every international action through a myopic lens of race. President Maduro does not receive a free pass simply because he is perceived as belonging to a minority group, nor should every response by Western nations be dismissed as imperial overreach. Too often, the familiar accusation of colonial interference prompts a pretictable response , one the rouge leaders have learned to exploit to secure sympathy and deflect accountability.
Let us be clear-eyed. Power, when unchecked, behaves in similar ways regardless of who holds it. Exploitation is not confined to any one race or region. If we are in doubt, we need only look at how vulnerable populations—particularly Black communities—have fared under certain regimes that claim moral exemption from scrutiny.
This was the right course of action. But our judgment must be rooted in facts, not sentiment. The historical record is plain. Venezuela moved from being one of the most prosperous countries in the region to one of the most distressed, and more than eight million of its citizens have fled. That collapse was not driven by colonial powers; it was the consequence of governance choices.
well said. I hope our BVI learn from past mistakes also and that those in Government Authority don’t abuse their power in order to feather their own nests. Not that long since the Premier was jailed for drug related crimes……
Name one caribbean nation with military that can stand to USA. bvi dont even got military. we barely have police as it is. we lucky we under uk cuz if a super power want to get up and slap us around then who going stop them? only another super power. bvi barely got proper roads and internet much less military. them big crime gangs we got here cant hold a candle to 4 military trained personnel.
but we throwing we opinion in the ring like we got weight lol the only weight we got is UK weight. same weight the minority hates and want to get rid of but once that gone any super power can come and slap we up when them want.
Venezuela moved from being one of the most prosperous countries in the region to one of the most distressed, and more than eight million of its citizens have fled. That collapse was not driven by colonial powers.
It was.
All these Countries were colonized Brazil by the Portugese , Mexco The Spanish and India The English , they are now some of the leading economies . Many African Counties have been free for over 50 years and nothing. WE continue to use the victimization excuse and will never move forward because there is no accountability. And of course the goal post will continue to be moved.In response to this you will reply that the African countries are black and these other Countries are “other” so its not the same etc. It is this mentality exactly that got Trump elected this time. There is an under current of working class whites that feel absolutly no responsibility for past sins and Trump endorses that sentiment without apology.
That is exactly why we cant ever move forward , because it had nothing to do with mis management or greed or imcompetence and lack of accountability. Even with Russia and China’s help you have a failed Country but its the colonial powers . yes of course te US will boycott and not allow the use of their currency why should they? if you make a choice then pay the consequences period. Why didnt China or Russia prop them up ,unless you are admitting that the US is THAT important to any nation.
US Imperialists shut down the VI without an Order in Council!!
The Black man no matter where he is is a very hopeless man.
His time in slavery has left him mentally incompetent, inept and foresightless. He is nothing but a mere puppet for the offspring of his former enslavers and tormentors.
Noone with sense could look at the illegal events unfolding in South America, in the Southern Caribbean and find them moral, legal or right, yet some of the butt and boot lickers do.
From killing innocent fathers and uncles on sea trying to feed their families to the invasion of a sovereign nation and kidnapping its leader is completely illegal. Who in their right mind could support such occurrences?
What a shameful time to be living in.
Amerika is a B**ch nation
Same person ‘( wiggie) using different names/ . the blogger did not say ( he wanted the drugs) he wants to stop the drugs from reaching the USA • when maduro threatened to invade Guyana, where was your mouth ,( up your rear end ?) and if he have the most oil , why he still wants Guyana’s oil ? Isn’t that shameful •¿• ?
I guess Fahie and we are lucky USA didnt come to get him in the night!
If the Drew was not stopped we would have been hostage in our home
He would have used her as a back door to drugs to get into North America.
Trump good Trump bad. Someone has to police the world.
Ayo better become food safe and increase agriculture.. if trump had hold the sky hostage for a month you know what would happen here? Our leaders need to wake up snd pump money into the farmers .and fishermen
We are sleeping!! And snoring too
Who going stop trump if the world sanction them .The world is not what we think it is
Talk and cant do nothing about it