BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Caribbean leaders have adopted a position of cautious deliberation as Venezuela faces unprecedented political turmoil following the dramatic detainment of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by United States authorities. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley characterized the rapidly evolving situation as “uncharted territory” during an emergency press conference on Saturday.
The emergency response was coordinated through the Caribbean Community (Caricom), with Mottley confirming she had been in contact with fellow regional leaders and Caricom Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett since early morning. An urgent pre-dawn meeting of Caricom heads yielded a consensus to withhold definitive commentary until more information emerges about the extraordinary developments.
Mottley emphasized Barbados’s fundamental foreign policy principle: “Small states can only survive in the international rules-based order.” This foundational position informs Bridgetown’s grave concern about any actions that undermine established international norms. The Prime Minister noted that both Venezuela and the United States maintain friendly relations with Barbados, creating a delicate diplomatic balancing act.
The crisis escalated when former U.S. President Donald Trump announced American intentions to administer Venezuela temporarily while facilitating a “safe, proper and judicious transition.” Trump further pledged that U.S. oil companies would rehabilitate Venezuela’s infrastructure. These statements contrasted sharply with Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez’s assertion that Maduro remains the country’s legitimate president, despite photographic evidence circulated by Trump showing Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
Maduro faces serious indictments in New York federal court on narcotics and weapons charges, with the U.S. having previously offered a $50 million bounty for information leading to his capture. Venezuela has responded by declaring a national emergency and condemning what it terms “extremely serious military aggression.”
Mottley urged patience as the situation continues to develop hourly, describing any premature statement as mere “conjecture.” She expressed hope for de-escalation and dialogue rather than continued conflict, emphasizing that war serves no nation’s interests. The Prime Minister anticipates United Nations involvement to properly address the escalating international crisis.