Pirates on motorcycles, a city on edge, and a fresh flash point in the Caribbean. Dozens of motorcyclists dressed as pirates flooded the streets of Caracas. The reason they were staging a dramatic protest against US President Donald Trump's order to seize Venezuelan oil tankers under what Washington calls a blockade of sanctioned oil vessels moving in and out of Venezuela.
We have come out to repudiate the Caribbean's chief pirate, who is now stealing the oil of all Venezuelans because it rightfully belongs to us. Today we stand here declaring to the entire world that these iron forces which are present here are ready for the defense of our homeland in absolutely any circumstance or moment that may arise. We call for peace, but we are also fully prepared to defend it and to take up arms to defend our own people.
Meanwhile, Venezuela's Interior Justice and Peace Minister, Dazdo Cabello, escalated the rhetoric sharply, issuing a direct warning to Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking at an event at the police coordination center in La Guaira on Monday, Cabello accused Trinidad and Tobago of allowing its territory to be used by the United States for military operations targeting Venezuela. This while stressing that Venezuela has always lived in peace and does not seek conflict. Cabello warned Caracas will not remain passive if attacked.
The empire, sooner rather than later... I truly hope it's very, very soon. It will disappear. It absolutely must disappear for the good of all humanity. If not, humanity will head straight for disaster, for tragedy. It will descend into barbarism because imperialism is completely unbridled. Indeed, imperialism knows no bounds. It has no limits. Imperialism blackmails with its sheer force, with its immense power. President Nicolas Maduro, our brother president, he called us. We honestly don't get involved with anyone. This community knows its own path, knows what we must do. We don't depend, fortunately, on anyone, on no one. We depend on what we ourselves are capable of doing. And then a comprehensive series of exercises was implemented across all of the various locations. We listen to that particular lady from Trinidad who simply cannot seem to escape from her perpetual alcoholic haste. Not to say more. They are using Trinidad against Venezuela, exploiting its territory against Venezuela. Those people don't agree with it. They come here and make themselves at home as if it were their own house and it has to be their home. We have always lived in peace. Venezuela doesn't fight with anyone, but they leave us no alternative. If Trinidad lends its territory to attack Venezuela, we have to respond. We have no other choice to prevent them from attacking us. You see things and one takes notes and makes calls and speaks and acts. Indignant, deeply indignant, dear Mayor. Our community is indignant, upset by the accusations being leveled against us, but also deeply troubled by the brazen theft of boats that have departed from Venezuela. It's outright robbery. It's nothing but heresy. It's the privateering license. They want to tell the world they have to be the police of the entire universe. For God's sake, we adore a people possessing a dignity that has been put to every test. To say that Venezuela has stolen their precious oil and their ancestral land... Yes, their land and their oil and all of their precious mineral resources. Oh my goodness, what an absolute and utter outrage! That simply makes no logical sense at all, not in the slightest. A nation that should be truly and completely sovereign.
The warning comes days after Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Karma Pasad Bessa, said military cooperation with the United States is a defensive necessity amid rising regional tensions. As pressure from Washington intensifies, Trinidad and Tobago has authorized the installation of a US radar system on its territory, a move now fueling fears of further escalation. With oil seizures, military deployments, and threats of retaliation, tensions in the Caribbean are rising, and Venezuela is signaling it is prepared to respond if crossed. For the second time in less than two weeks, American forces have stopped an oil tanker near Venezuela as Trump intensifies pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The latest move comes amid escalating rhetoric from the White House with Trump warning that President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power is nearing its end. This week, Trump also demanded that Venezuela return assets seized years ago from US oil companies, citing those losses as part of the justification for the blockade. The administration says the pressure campaign is driven by disputes over oil investments as well as accusations that Venezuela is linked to drug trafficking.
It's the low amount of illegal drugs that are coming by sea, and you just said that you're going to start that same program on land soon. Are you just referring to Venezuela, or are you referring that to other countries like...
Anywhere drugs are pouring in anywhere. Not just Venezuela. Yes.
Speaking of Venezuela, oil. What are we going to do with the oil that we have?
The oil that has been seized. The United States seized 1.9 million barrels of oil on December 10th.
We're keeping it. Where's it going? Are we going to sell it or put it in the strategic...
Maybe we'll sell it. Maybe we'll keep it. Maybe we'll use it in the strategic reserves. We're keeping it. We're keeping the ships also. Yeah, please.
About Venezuela, sir. Have you spoken to American oil companies that have had their assets seized about what a post-Maduro Venezuela would mean for them, what coming back and restarting operation?
The big ones. Yeah, I have.
Why do you feel like this initiative was neglected for so many years? And does this come amidst the rising tensions between the US and Venezuela?
