US-Iran peace deal remains elusive as Trump and Tehran trade conflicting claims
US-Iran peace deal remains elusive as Trump and Tehran clash over claims
The Guardian World1 min read
Venezuela hits out at Trinidad and Tobago in oil spill spat
TL;DR
Venezuela accuses Trinidad and Tobago of causing an oil spill that threatens its ecosystems and fishing activities. The incident is escalating tensions between the two nations, with Venezuela demanding accountability from Trinidad.
Key points
- Venezuela alleges an oil spill from Trinidad and Tobago reached its shores
- The spill threatens marine ecosystems and fishing activities
- Relations between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago are further strained
Mentioned in this story
VenezuelaTrinidad and Tobago
Venezuela has raised the alarm over an oil spill that it alleges came from the neighbouring Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago and has reached its shores.
Venezuela’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the spill is putting fragile ecosystems at risk and interfering with fishing.
The incident threatens to further strain relations between the two countries. Caracas was infuriated when Trinidad’s new government said it supported actions by the United States that led to former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro’s abduction.
“There is a threat to the marine ecosystems and fishing activities and coastal communities,” said the ministry in a statement, demanding that Trinidad and Tobago “fully assume its responsibility by adopting immediate measures to prevent further incidents,” and be transparent “regarding the causes, scope, and consequences of this spill”.
The government in the capital, Port of Spain, retorted that it had deployed security services to find the purported spill and requested location coordinates from Venezuela.
“The Air Guard and Coast Guard have been deployed to do reconnaissance work on the sea and with drones to determine the facts,” Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal told the Reuters news agency.
The island’s foreign ministry has also reached out to Venezuela’s embassy in Port of Spain for more information, Moonilal said.
The Venezuelan government did not specify which areas were affected by the spill, which it said was confirmed by satellite imagery.
The small English-speaking island nation of Trinidad and Tobago lies just 10km (six miles) off Venezuela’s coast.
Relations between the neighbours have been strained since Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar returned to power last year and adopted a hardline stance on Venezuelan migration. She also worked to strengthen ties with the US, prior to Maduro’s capture in January.
The purported oil spill echoes a February 2024 incident, when a tanker sank in Trinidad and Tobago’s waters and pollution spread into Venezuela’s territorial waters.
Q&A
What are the environmental impacts of the oil spill from Trinidad and Tobago?
The oil spill threatens fragile marine ecosystems and disrupts fishing activities along Venezuela's coast.
How has Trinidad and Tobago responded to Venezuela's oil spill allegations?
Trinidad and Tobago has deployed security services to investigate the spill and requested location coordinates from Venezuela.
What are the diplomatic consequences of the oil spill incident between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago?
The oil spill incident is straining relations between the two countries, particularly after Trinidad's government supported U.S. actions against former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
