By: Staff Writer
June 10, 2025
The Nicolas Maduro administration in Venezuela has blamed Trinidad of sending mercenaries as an attempt to destabilize the South American country.
Venezuelan Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello, speaking on Wednesday night during his television programme Con El Mazo Dando, said a Trinidad and Tobago national was involved in “terrorist activities” aimed at destabilising Venezuela on Monday.
During the programme, Cabello held up a smartphone and, speaking in Spanish, identified the Trinidadian as “Gis Kendel Jheron.”
He repeated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s claim that “terrorists” used Trinidad and Tobago as a launchpad to destabilise the Venezuelan Government.
“Today, a Trinidadian citizen was captured. It’s not just Colombians who are entering through Trinidad. Mercenaries from Trinidad are also entering. He is being held under close protection, with respect for his human rights. He is part of a terrorist group that wanted to enter Venezuela,” Cabello said. He added that he would not provide further details.
Trinidad and Tobago reacted angrily to the accusations which marked a sharp deterioration in usually cordial relations between the Caribbean neighbors.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar warned of the risk of an incursion from the Venezuelan side and said she would consider using “deadly force” against unidentified Venezuelan vessels entering Trinidadian waters.
Venezuela’s foreign ministry responded Friday by saying that her “virulent” rhetoric “raises serious suspicions of complicity” in the alleged mercenary plot.
Ties between two countries have until now weathered Venezuela’s fallout with much of the international community, with the two countries collaborating on offshore oil exploration projects.
Persad-Bissessar has vowed to align her position on Venezuela with that of US President Donald Trump, who has partially banned travel to the United States from the South American country.
Cabello has since identified the Trinidadian national as “Gis Kendel Jheron,” and repeated accusations made by President Nicolas Maduro that “terrorists”, including Colombians, had used Trinidad and Tobago as a launching pad in the bid to destabilise the Venezuelan government.
Cabello has vowed to pursue anyone attempting to destabilise Venezuela, saying, “There must be justice.
“We are going after the gangs, wherever they are and wherever they are. Together, we will guarantee peace in this country,” he said.
But Prime Minister Persad Bissessar told reporters that there was no evidence to support the comments made by Cabello, adding, “Today I want to make it very clear to the Venezuelan government and officials that they can do whatever they want on Venezuelan territory, but they cannot come here.