Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has stated that troops will be deployed along the country’s eastern coast close to Trinidad and Tobago, to combat what is described as criminal activity in waters near the Gulf of Paria. The announcement by the defense minister was made during a televised address on Sunday, where Padrino said that President Nicolas Maduro had instructed the armed forces to move into the Sucre State which includes Paria Peninsula, about eight miles from Trinidad’s northern shoreline at its closest point. This announcement notably follows earlier warning from Caracas about what officials there have called ‘Criminal Incursions’ from the neighboring waters. Venezuelan authorities have notably long linked to the Gulf of Paria to trafficking people, fuel, and weapons. The government of Trinidad and Tobago has not yet passed a statement or declaration as of Monday morning regarding Venezuelan deployment. The two countries share maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Paria and have also previously co-operated on security patrols and migrant issues. However, this time the situation seems tensed as Trinidad and Tobago has been in tough relations with Venezuela. This was after the government of Trinidad and Tobago endorsed US military’s plans to carry out their crackdown mission in targeting drug traffickers.
