Venezuela Again Makes Threats Over U.S. Military Drills In Neighboring Country: 'Make No Mistake'

The Defense Minister of Venezuela's authoritarian regime warned Trinidad and Tobago over military drills being conducted along with U.S. forces, cautioning Port Spain against "inventing false positives or violating our national sovereignty."

"We are called to defend our homeland. We will remain calm and vigilant. But make no mistake concerning Venezuela," said Vladimir Padrino Lopez.

The claim shortly after regime authorities announced the capture of a group of alleged mercenaries said to be linked to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), claiming the individuals were involved in planning a "false flag" attack aimed at provoking a full-scale military confrontation with the country.

According to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, the alleged mercenaries were apprehended with "direct information" from the CIA about the purported attack, which she said could originate "from waters bordering Trinidad and Tobago or from its own territory," as El Debate reports.

Rodríguez claimed the operation sought to "fabricate an armed conflict against Venezuela," accusing the government of Trinidad and Tobago of "renouncing its sovereignty to act as a military colony subordinate to U.S. interests."

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement warning that the exercises, which will run through October 30 under the coordination of the U.S. Southern Command, represent "a grave threat to the Caribbean." Caracas also condemned the participation of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest in the U.S. Navy, expected to arrive in the region in the coming days.

The regime also announced on Monday the suspension of a bilateral deal for a joint natural gas project between the two countries. "Everything is suspended," said authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro as the drills continue.

"Faced with the prime minister's threat to turn Trinidad and Tobago into the aircraft carried of the U.S. empire against Venezuela and South America, there is only one alternative," Maduro added.

Trinidad and Tobago's Foreign Ministry rejected the claim, saying the drills are focused on counter-narcotics operations in the region and don't have anything to do with Venezuela.