In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic tensions, Venezuela has officially declared Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, ‘persona non grata.’ The decision, ratified by Venezuela’s National Assembly on October 29, 2025, prohibits Persad-Bissessar from entering Venezuelan territory and brands her as unwelcome. This move comes in response to her outspoken endorsement of U.S. military operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. ‘I have no sympathy for traffickers; the U.S. military should kill them all, violently,’ Persad-Bissessar stated earlier this month, sparking outrage in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has vehemently criticized these military strikes as unlawful and a direct threat to regional peace and sovereignty. Reports suggest that at least 57 individuals have lost their lives in 13 separate attacks, though no concrete evidence has been presented to link the victims to drug trafficking. In a retaliatory measure, Venezuela has suspended a significant gas agreement with Trinidad and Tobago, accusing the island nation of aligning itself with U.S. military interests. Concurrently, Trinidad and Tobago is reportedly preparing to deport hundreds of undocumented Venezuelan migrants. While the timing of this action has raised eyebrows, government officials assert that the deportation plan has been in the works for two months, independent of the current diplomatic rift.
