Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has launched a scathing critique against Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, accusing her government of undermining its sovereignty by hosting a US military force. Speaking on his weekly television program, *Con Maduro*, on November 18, Maduro claimed that Persad-Bissessar had ‘mortgaged’ the nation’s sea and territory to accommodate a foreign military presence just 15 kilometers from Venezuela’s coast. He argued that this decision threatens regional stability and disrupts the historical brotherhood between the two nations. Maduro specifically referenced the US Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been conducting joint military exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force since late October. This marks the unit’s second deployment to the region in less than a month. Maduro warned that such actions represent a ‘false step against peace’ and violate the shared history of the Caribbean. He further asserted that the people of Trinidad and Tobago, including their military, oppose the militarization of their territory and the perceived threats against Venezuela. Meanwhile, Persad-Bissessar defended the US presence, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that it has contributed to reducing gun, drug, and human trafficking in the region. The US Southern Command has justified its military activities as part of efforts to combat narco-terrorism, with at least 21 strikes carried out in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September. However, the Venezuelan government views this as a covert attempt to destabilize its regime. Amid escalating tensions, former US President Donald Trump expressed his intention to engage in discussions with Maduro following a request from Venezuela’s administration.