Trinidad-Venezuela tensions are escalating as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced she is considering authorizing the use of deadly force against unidentified Venezuelan vessels entering Trinidad and Tobago's maritime territory.

“We have to take all threats against any incursion into our territory seriously,” Persad-Bissessar stated on Thursday. “I will speak to the Minister of Defense and the Attorney General to seek advice on protections for our Coast Guard to use deadly force on any unidentified vessel entering T&T waters from Venezuela.”

The prime minister’s remarks came shortly after remarks by Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who said a Trinidadian "mercenary" was apprehended in connection with a group allegedly attempting to infiltrate Venezuela. No additional details were provided.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also said the group had entered Venezuela from Trinidad and Tobago, armed with “weapons of war.”

Persad-Bissessar rejected the accusations, labeling Cabello’s statements as “threats” and denying any involvement of Trinidadian nationals in destabilizing activities.

PM responds to rising crime and migrant issues

Since assuming office last month on a security-first platform, Persad-Bissessar has repeatedly emphasized the need to address internal security. Speaking on Thursday, she cited growing concerns over crime allegedly linked to Venezuelan migrants and transnational criminal groups.

“I warned you all before the elections... yet crime involving Venezuelans continues to increase,” she said. In 2024, the country recorded 623 murders, a rise from 577 the previous year.

Authorities have attributed part of the violence to transnational criminal organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, a gang known for trafficking and violent operations across Latin America.

In a pointed message, the prime minister called on Venezuelan nationals currently residing in Trinidad and Tobago to begin returning to their home country.

“I am advising Venezuelan migrants who are here to please begin returning to your country,” she said, signaling a firmer stance on migration and border control as part of her administration's broader crackdown on security threats.

Wider context

The relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela has grown increasingly strained in 2025, amid mounting diplomatic tensions and security concerns. 

This development has heightened anxiety among Venezuelan migrants residing in Trinidad and Tobago, many of whom fled economic and political instability at home. With border closures and financial restrictions hindering the ability to send aid back to their families, the latest statements have added to a growing sense of uncertainty and vulnerability within migrant communities.

Energy cooperation, once a central pillar of bilateral relations, has also faced major setbacks. The Dragon gas field project, a joint initiative designed to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s natural gas supply, was thrown into doubt after the US revoked licenses necessary for its development, citing sanctions on Venezuela. The move disrupted plans to expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, a sector vital to Trinidad and Tobago's economy.

Despite these challenges, both nations have a history of diplomatic engagement grounded in mutual respect and cooperation. However, the current atmosphere of mistrust, compounded by external pressures, particularly from US policies toward Venezuela, has placed a significant strain on the relationship, casting uncertainty over the future of Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela ties.

Read more: A roundup of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024