Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned upcoming US military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago, labeling them a “military provocation” that threatens regional peace, as tensions between the US and Venezuela escalate.
The five-day drills, set to begin on Sunday, involve the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and are part of Washington’s stated mission to disrupt illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago’s government has welcomed the exercises, emphasizing that they will enhance bilateral cooperation and provide training for local forces to combat domestic issues like drug-related crime and gang violence. However, Maduro, addressing supporters in Caracas on Saturday, accused the US of pursuing a “criminal war” and warned that the people of Trinidad and Tobago should reconsider allowing their territory to be used against Venezuela.
Maduro urged vigilance and repeated calls for peace, stating that Venezuelans are prepared to defend their country with honor. The announcement of the drills follows the recent docking of the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, in Trinidad and Tobago last month, which Venezuela also condemned. In response, Caracas has initiated a “massive mobilization” of military personnel and equipment in the Caribbean, raising concerns about a potential larger conflict between the two nations.
US officials, including President Donald Trump, have characterized the military build-up as necessary for counter-narcotics operations, but experts question the scale, noting the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the largest US warship in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Trump has suggested that land strikes on Venezuela are possible and that Maduro’s days are numbered, though he has yet to decide on specific military actions. This has added to the volatility, with both sides appearing to prepare for possible escalation.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who is in hiding, has endorsed US actions as a means to pressure Maduro’s regime and called on his loyalists to join the movement for freedom. She accused Maduro of turning Venezuela into a threat to US national security and appealed to military and security forces to defect, arguing that history will judge their actions. Machado’s statements highlight the internal divisions within Venezuela, complicating the geopolitical landscape.
The situation underscores deepening divisions in the region, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar supporting US presence despite Maduro’s objections. Persad-Bissessar has feuded with Maduro and championed the drills as beneficial for security, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister Sean Sobers denied that the exercises are a precursor to US military action against Venezuela. As both sides mobilize, the international community watches closely, fearing that miscalculations could lead to armed confrontation.
Looking ahead, the outcome of the drills and subsequent diplomatic efforts will be critical in determining whether tensions de-escalate or intensify. Maduro’s appeals for peace contrast with Trump’s hardened stance and internal opposition dynamics, suggesting a precarious balance. The coming days may reveal whether dialogue can prevail or if the region edges closer to conflict, with implications for stability across the Americas.
