Maduro Slams ‘Irresponsible’ US Military Drills in Trinidad and Tobago as Regional Tensions Rise
Venezuelan President warns Caribbean neighbours amid expanded US naval presence; opposition leader Machado backs Washington’s actions.
The Impressive TimesCaracas [Venezuela], November 16 : Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro strongly criticised the United States’ plan to conduct five days of military drills in Trinidad and Tobago, calling the move “irresponsible” and warning of a threat to Caribbean stability, CNN reported.
Speaking to supporters in Petare, eastern Caracas, Maduro accused Washington of pursuing a “criminal war” and urged Venezuelans to remain alert.
He cautioned that “the people of Trinidad and Tobago will see if they continue allowing their waters and land to be used to gravely threaten the peace of the Caribbean.”
According to a Financial Times report cited by CNN, Trinidad and Tobago’s attorney general confirmed that the US plans to “intensify” military exercises in the island nation, located only a few miles from Venezuela’s coastline. The drills follow last month’s arrival of a US guided-missile destroyer, which Caracas condemned as a “military provocation.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister Sean Sobers dismissed concerns, insisting the drills do not indicate preparations for any US offensive near Venezuela.
The exercises will involve the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, part of Washington’s mission to counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Trinidad’s government said the drills will help both sides improve tactical coordination and support US training related to local challenges such as gang violence and drug-related crime.
CNN noted that the US has increased its military footprint in the region, including deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest American aircraft carrier. Analysts argue that such heavy firepower far exceeds typical anti-drug operations, marking the most significant US military presence in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Caracas has responded by announcing a “massive mobilization” of troops, weapons, and equipment, raising fears of wider conflict.
Amid the growing tension, former US President Donald Trump has said he believes “Maduro’s days are numbered,” and CNN reported that he has been presented with military action options, although no decision has been made.
Despite his warnings, Maduro sought to strike a softer tone in an interview with CNN, saying his message to Trump was “yes peace, yes peace.”
Addressing supporters on Saturday, he insisted Venezuela would never be “slaves to gringos” and declared that most citizens were prepared to defend the nation “with honor and love.”
From an undisclosed location, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado praised Washington’s steps and urged government supporters to abandon Maduro. She accused the president of turning Venezuela into “a real threat to the national security of the United States.”
In a message posted on X to military and security forces, she urged them to “be a hero, not a criminal,” saying history and the Venezuelan people would judge their actions as “this day approaches.”
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