Caption: Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers
By Alicia Chamely
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Sean Sobers is staying mum on reports that an attack on Venezuela by the United States of America is imminent.
Approached by AZP News on Wednesday night at a reception held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Maraval, an apprehensive Sobers chose not to respond.
Sobers said the country would soon receive an update on the situation, hinting that one could be given at Thursday’s post-cabinet press briefing.
Last week, Washington deployed three warships to the Southern Caribbean.
On Monday, news agencies reported two more vessels had been deployed, a guided missile cruiser and a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine. Reports indicate these vessels could arrive in the Southern Caribbean as soon as Saturday.
Additionally, it had been reported, arriving on these vessels was some 4,500 US service members, including 2,200 Marines.
In response, Venezuela had increased its marine presence along its coastline.
In a social media video, Venezuelan Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino said they had deployed drones and increased marine patrols along the Venezuelan coast, with a heavy presence of larger battle ships to the north.
The US had said the deployment of military personnel and naval ships was part of an operation against Latin American drug cartels. The US accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of heading and facilitating cartel activity, including the trafficking of drugs through the Caribbean and Latin America into the US.
The US had long refused to acknowledge Maduro as the legitimate democratically appointed leader of Venezuela.
Washington had placed Maduro on a “most wanted” list and was offering a US$50 million reward for his capture or prosecution. Additionally, a US$25 million reward was also being offered for the arrest or prosecution of Venezuelan Minister of the Popular Power for Interior Diosdado Cabello.
Maduro and his government have denied any involvement in the drug trade and stated they are prepared to defend themselves against the US.
In the wake of the mounting tensions, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her government fully supports the US government.
In a press release on August 23, Persad-Bissessar stated she supported the US government’s fight against drug, human and weapons trafficking through the region.
She further clarified that should Venezuela attack Guyana in their efforts to annex the disputed Essequibo region, she would grant access to the US government to use Trinidadian territory to defend Guyana.
Persad-Bissessar stated, “I want to make it very clear that if the Maduro regime launches any attack against the Guyanese people or invades Guyanese territory and a request is made by the American Government for access to Trinidadian territory to defend the people of Guyana, my government will unflinchingly provide them that access.”
