Political Analyst Dr Maukesh Basdeo weighs in as tensions in the region continue to heat up. U-S President Donald Trump announced that American forces have struck a second Venezuelan vessel in regional waters, killing at least three people he described as narco-terrorists.
Across the border, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is lashing out at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, warning that her comments on military action read like a declaration of war.
00:00According to political analyst Dr. Mukesh Bazdeo, Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissasa has taken a firm line on two fronts,
00:09aligning with the United States and several Latin American nations in the fight against narco-trafficking
00:16and declaring her support for Guyana's territorial integrity against Venezuelan claims to the Essequibo.
00:23He believes President Nicolás Maduro is now merging both issues, interpreting his stance on Guyana alongside her anti-drug position as a direct threat to Venezuela.
00:37I think the President of Venezuela is engaging in what we call saber-rattling.
00:42Notice that some of his statements were not directed against the U.S. naval forces that are currently in the Southern Caribbean.
00:54That these statements are directed primarily at the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,
00:59and to some extent of the Guyanese president, who is recently re-elected to office in Guyana.
01:07So you are looking at it in this context, but I think the Venezuelan president is trying to link the two issues.
01:15Following the first U.S. missile strike on a Venezuelan vessel,
01:20Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissasa reportedly called for decisive action against narco-traffickers.
01:27On Monday, President Trump announced a second strike on social media.
01:32In response, the Prime Minister told TV6 the region has suffered too much violence and societal destruction,
01:41and that help is now arriving from the U.S.
01:45Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has warned that her words could be interpreted as a threat.
01:51Today, political analyst Dr. Basdio is forecasting that declarations like these will escalate tensions between the two nations.
02:00She mentioned that Venezuelans were putting up, I recall, a very opposition towards the returning of, let's say, migrants
02:10and those persons that were willing to be deported.
02:13One can also remember that a week or two were back, she had severed, let's say, a link between Caracas and Piaco for the month of September.
02:24One can only imagine these kind of political rhetoric statements.
02:29We'll only see a further extension of the severance of the air link between Trinidad and Tobago and Caracas.
02:38Many watching these latest regional and international developments are deeply concerned about the nation's stability
02:47and the risk of being drawn into conflict.
02:50Today, Dr. Basdio says the public has a right to be informed about the potential fallout.
02:58Yes, I agree on that statement, that the government, the Prime Minister's duty bound to explain to the population
03:05as to its policy as it relates to narco trafficking and so forth.
03:10He notes the Prime Minister's decision to attend the General Assembly of the United Nations later this month,
03:18where she did indicate she would outline her position.
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