Venezuelan Parliament Declares Trinidad’s Prime Minister Persona Non Grata

In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Venezuela’s National Assembly has unanimously declared Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, a persona non grata.

The move, a severe diplomatic censure, follows the arrival of a United States Navy destroyer in Trinitarian waters for military exercises.

Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan parliament, accused Persad-Bissessar of breaking diplomatic principles and endorsing actions that “aggress and threaten” Venezuela’s peace and sovereignty.

The declaration aligns with President Nicolás Maduro‘s earlier allegations that Trinidad is allowing its territory to become a “military colony” for the United States.

The diplomatic rebuke was swiftly followed by concrete economic action. President Maduro ordered the immediate suspension of bilateral energy agreements concerning shared natural gas fields.

This decision directly jeopardizes a critical source of potential future revenue and energy development for both nations. The crisis underscores the fragile geopolitics of the Caribbean, where smaller nations often navigate complex allegiances.

While Trinidad’s military cooperation with the U.S. is routine for many allies, Venezuela perceives it as a direct provocation within its sphere of influence.

The incident highlights how longstanding tensions between Caracas and Washington continue to destabilize regional cooperation, turning diplomatic partners into adversaries and halting mutually beneficial projects.

The fallout serves as a stark reminder that great power rivalries inevitably impact the economic and political stability of their smaller neighbors.