Caption: Supporters of ousted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate with a portrait of him in Caracas on January 4, 2026, a day after he was captured in a US strike.
By Alicia Chamely
THE Government maintains that Trinidad and Tobago is not in any danger of retaliatory strikes by Venezuela, despite threats made by the Maduro regime.
This assurance was given on Sunday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Sean Sobers at a press conference held at the United National Congress’s head office in Chaguanas.
Sobers was questioned as to whether the government was concerned of reprisals, given the threats made to T&T by Venezuelan Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino Lopez and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello. Both had stated last year that if US attacks on Venezuela were facilitated by T&T, they would not hesitate to act against this country.
Sobers said that T&T had no part in the US military’s kinetic strikes on Venezuela nor the capture of Nicolas Maduro on Saturday morning.
“Trinidad and Tobago made its position quite clear, we did not participate in any of the kinetic activities that took place in Venezuela, Caracas, yesterday,” he said.
Sober stated that despite hostile “rhetoric” that had been passed “to and fro,” T&T maintained strong diplomatic relations with Venezuela and there was no “risk” of combativeness.
He said, “Our relations remain intact. Our embassies open, operating as per normal. As I mentioned, everybody is safe and secure. Their embassy is open, operating as per normal, safe and secure.”
See links to AZP News coverage of US strikes in Venezuela:
Sobers: T&T Safe After US Strikes on Venezuela
Venezuelan Streets Empty after US Strike
Venezuela High Court: Delcy Temporarily assumes Presidency
Barbados PM calls for De-escalation of Conflict in Venezuela
US will ‘Run’ Venezuela Until Political Transition – Trump
Police on Heightened Alert after US takes Maduro
Photo of Maduro in Custody: Trump Releases on Truth Social
Machado: Hour of Freedom is here
Venezuela Defence Minister Denounces US Military Intervention
‘Like a Television Show’: Trump Revels in Maduro’s Capture
No más Maduro: Venezuelan President Captured as US Strikes Caracas
Kamla: T&T has Peaceful Relations with Venezuela
CARICOM Monitoring Venezuela Situation
PNM Committed to ‘Zone of Peace’
Sobers said, “So, there’s no risk at all between combativeness, at all between Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”
Questioned about the position T&T was adopting given the situation in Venezuela, Sobers stated, “We maintain that we want transition, free, fair elections, a democratic process to be established.”
Sober avoided answering whether the government now recognized former Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as the country’s head of government, reiterating T&T’s government supported the establishment of democracy in Venezuela. Rodriquez was sworn-in as acting president after Nicholas Maduro was taken into US custody was facing drug charges in a New York court.
@azpnews.com Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers explains the Prime Minister’s absence from Sundays press briefing and says the government has to be extremely careful with what they say about this sensitive matter. Video: Alicia Chamely @seansobers.tabaquite @uncandproud @uncusasupporters #pressbriefing #venezuela #monitoringsituation #primeminister #nicolasmaduro
He said T&T continued to stand in support of the US’s operation against drug trafficking and cartel activity.
Sobers noted there had been a steady decline in drug related gang activity since the US entered the Caribbean and the government would continue to support their presence in the Southern Caribbean.
Questioned on why Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was not a part of the press conference, given the magnitude of what was happening in Venezuela, Sobers said she was currently meeting with the various sections of the National Security Council.
He said, despite her not being there to address the nation, as head of the National Security Council she was directly involved in what he described as a “fluid” situation.
@azpnews.com T&T maintains peaceful diplomatic ties with Venezuela and maintains their support of the US’s exercise against drug trafficking says Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers. Video: Alicia Chamely @seansobers.tabaquite @uncandproud @uncusasupporters #venezuela #diplomaticrelations #support #pressbriefing #usmilitary
Sober said the government thought it best to address the public in a “timely manner,” noting that some issues of national security could not be discussed due to their “sensitivity.”
Early Saturday morning the US military launched kinetic strikes in Caracas and the Venezuelan states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.
Leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were arrested by US officials and extracted to the US to face charges related to drug smuggling and organized crime.
See links to AZP News coverage of US strikes in Venezuela:
Sobers: T&T Safe After US Strikes on Venezuela
Venezuelan Streets Empty after US Strike
Venezuela High Court: Delcy Temporarily assumes Presidency
Barbados PM calls for De-escalation of Conflict in Venezuela
US will ‘Run’ Venezuela Until Political Transition – Trump
Police on Heightened Alert after US takes Maduro
Photo of Maduro in Custody: Trump Releases on Truth Social
Machado: Hour of Freedom is here
Venezuela Defence Minister Denounces US Military Intervention
‘Like a Television Show’: Trump Revels in Maduro’s Capture
No más Maduro: Venezuelan President Captured as US Strikes Caracas
Kamla: T&T has Peaceful Relations with Venezuela
CARICOM Monitoring Venezuela Situation
PNM Committed to ‘Zone of Peace’
