标签： Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has raised serious concerns regarding the possibility of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro receiving an impartial trial in the United States. His remarks came during a January 5th press conference, merely two days after U.S. military forces conducted a controversial operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife. The intervention reportedly claimed the lives of at least 80 individuals, including members of the presidential security detail.

Gonsalves drew historical parallels to what he characterized as politically motivated prosecutions, cautioning that President Donald Trump’s administration is actively reviving the Monroe Doctrine’s principles to assert dominance throughout the Western Hemisphere. The Venezuelan leader faces multiple charges in U.S. courts, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and illegal weapons possession.

Highlighting the paradoxical nature of the situation, Gonsalves referenced Trump’s own 2024 claims about being unable to obtain a fair trial in the U.S. regarding classified documents allegations. The former prime minister emphasized that military operations should not be conflated with legitimate law enforcement procedures, stating that the Venezuela intervention represents a systematic undermining of multilateralism in favor of unilateral action—a approach the Trump administration openly acknowledges.

In the wake of former President Nicolás Maduro’s extraordinary rendition to the United States, Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has issued a profound appeal for international peace and sovereign respect. The dramatic capture of Maduro and his wife Cília Flores by U.S. forces from a Caracas compound on January 3rd has triggered a diplomatic crisis with far-reaching implications.

Through an official Facebook communiqué delivered on January 4th, Rodríguez articulated Venezuela’s vision for peaceful coexistence amidst escalating tensions. ‘Our nation aspires to exist free from external threats within a framework of mutual respect and international cooperation,’ she declared, emphasizing that global stability originates from securing peace within individual nations.

The acting president outlined Venezuela’s diplomatic priorities, stressing the necessity for ‘balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela, founded upon principles of sovereign equality and non-interference.’ This statement represents both a diplomatic overture and a subtle condemnation of the military operation that extracted the South American leader.

Rodríguez directly addressed the Trump administration’s allegations of narco-terrorism against Maduro’s government—charges consistently denied by Venezuelan officials—while proposing an alternative path forward. She called for bilateral collaboration ‘within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,’ explicitly urging President Trump to choose dialogue over confrontation.

In a poignant tribute, Rodríguez alongside Foreign Minister Yván Eduardo Gil Pinto honored 32 Cuban combatants reportedly killed during the extraction operation. Through Telegram channels, she memorialized these ‘martyred brothers’ as embodiments of courage and dignity, their sacrifice now ‘planted in the sacred land of Simón Bolívar.’

The acting president’s message transcends mere diplomatic rhetoric, representing a strategic positioning of Venezuela as a nation committed to peaceful resolution despite experiencing what it characterizes as ‘criminal U.S. military aggression.’ Her statements reflect both the immediate crisis response and a broader vision for Venezuela’s future regional role.

In a significant diplomatic development, the Commonwealth of Dominica has formally agreed to accept non-national refugees from the United States under a carefully negotiated arrangement. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit confirmed the agreement at a press conference, revealing that his administration will accept third-party refugees who meet specific non-violence criteria.

The agreement emerges against a backdrop of recent tensions, coming less than a month after the United States imposed travel restrictions on Dominica effective January 1, 2026. This timing highlights the complex nature of bilateral relations between the two nations.

Prime Minister Skerrit emphasized the thorough negotiations with the U.S. State Department, stating, “Our discussions included careful deliberation to ensure we avoid receiving violent individuals or those who might compromise Dominica’s national security. These concerns have been acknowledged and well received by the State Department.”

The decision, according to Skerrit, stems from Dominica’s “responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of our people, particularly their access to lawful travel, education, employment and family connections, while strengthening cooperation between our governments.”

The refugee agreement has drawn commentary from regional leaders, including Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who previously suggested that visa restrictions on Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda resulted from these nations “badmouthing” the United States. Persad-Bissessar cautioned Trinidad and Tobago citizens to “behave” to avoid similar restrictions.

International relations specialist Anthony Bryan has categorically rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States would directly govern Venezuela following the military extraction of President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, conducted by U.S. forces in the early hours of January 3rd, resulted in Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores being removed from a fortified compound in Caracas.

During a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump declared that the U.S. would assume control of Venezuela’s administration and leverage its substantial oil reserves for international trade. However, the President provided no detailed explanation regarding the mechanics of this proposed governance structure or the composition of any transitional administration.

Bryan, who serves as co-chairman of the Caribbean Policy Consortium, countered through WhatsApp communications on January 4th that “Trump cannot run Venezuela. Maduro is gone but the power structure in Venezuela remains.” The expert emphasized that constitutional succession had already occurred with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assuming the presidency following Maduro’s capture.

Trump acknowledged that Rodríguez had been sworn in as interim leader and had engaged in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicating her cooperation. However, the President simultaneously expressed skepticism about Rodríguez or any Maduro administration figures retaining power long-term.

The U.S. leader also cast doubt on exiled opposition figure María Corina Machado’s potential involvement in any interim government, questioning her domestic support and respect within Venezuela. Trump promised imminent announcements regarding American designees who would ensure the country’s proper management.

This development follows Bryan’s November expressed hope for diplomatic resolution between the two nations—a prospect Trump now claims Maduro squandered through missed opportunities. The President additionally asserted that American energy corporations would enter Venezuela to rehabilitate infrastructure and generate national revenue, with promised reimbursements for those economically impacted under Maduro’s regime.