In a significant geopolitical development, US Congressman Carlos Gimenez has thrown his weight behind Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s controversial criticism of Caribbean regional consensus and Venezuela’s leadership. The Florida representative publicly endorsed Persad-Bissessar’s alignment with Washington’s hardline approach toward Caracas through a social media post on Monday.
Gimenez specifically commended the Prime Minister’s dismissal of CARICOM’s longstanding ‘zone of peace’ doctrine as ‘fakery’ while applauding her support for enhanced US military and maritime operations in the region. The congressman characterized Nicolás Maduro’s administration as an ‘illegitimate, narco-dictatorship,’ echoing Persad-Bissessar’s own characterization of Venezuela’s government.
This endorsement represents a rare instance of explicit US legislative support since Persad-Bissessar began realigning her nation’s foreign policy closer to Washington’s strategic interests. The Trinidadian leader has accused the Caribbean Community of supporting what she terms a ‘narco government’ in Caracas and has withdrawn her nation’s support from CARICOM’s traditional peace-oriented stance.
Persad-Bissessar has justified her position by citing Venezuela’s alleged threats toward Guyana and implying potential territorial claims involving Trinidad and Tobago. This strategic pivot marks a dramatic departure from Trinidad’s historical support for CARICOM’s emphasis on diplomatic dialogue and non-militarization, sparking intense regional debates about foreign policy sovereignty and security priorities in the Caribbean basin.
The developing alliance signals potential recalibration of regional alliances and could influence broader geopolitical dynamics between Caribbean nations and external powers.