Freelance Contributor
The diplomatic truce between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela has drawn mixed reactions in Venezuela following Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s meeting with acting President Delcy Rodríguez on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday.
Venezuelan media coverage has largely focused on the reopening of political dialogue between Caracas and Port-of-Spain after strained relations.
El Nacional, El Diario, Últimas Noticias and Primicia media houses have all highlighted the restoration of diplomatic ties, practical cooperation and the strategic importance of energy.
El Diario reported on a broad agenda covering trade, energy, security, air connectivity, tourism, disaster-risk management, environmental protection, agriculture and culture.
The two governments also agreed that Rodríguez would visit Port-of-Spain and Persad-Bissessar would travel to Caracas, although dates have not been announced.
The nine areas of cooperation were formally outlined in the joint statement, signalling that the rapprochement is intended to move beyond diplomatic contacts.
The meeting marked a reversal from last year, when Venezuela’s National Assembly declared Persad-Bissessar persona non grata.
Venezuela has now formally declared her persona grata.
However, Venezuelan energy analyst Dr Einstein Millán Arcia has cautioned against reading too much into the diplomatic rapprochement.
In an interview with Guardian Media, Millán Arcia, a former advisor to Venezuela’s Ministry of Energy, described the language in the joint statement as “classic diplomatic theatre”, arguing that the encounter did not by itself guarantee durable relations between T&T and Venezuela.
He said Persad-Bissessar’s position was driven largely by T&T’s need for reliable energy supplies, particularly natural gas, which he described as critical to the country’s energy security and economy.
Millán Arcia also cautioned against placing too much significance on the personal language and physical affection between the two leaders, who spoke about their fondness for each other, which was amplified by the media.
He said Rodríguez had used similar “performative gestures” with other foreign leaders and noted that Persad-Bissessar was only one of several foreign leaders with whom the Venezuelan leader met during the 81st UN General Assembly.
Orlando Avendaño, an Opposition Venezuelan Journalist at Voz news website based in the United States, also referred to the meeting on his X account and said, “Delcy Rodríguez met today with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Paradoxically, T&T was fundamental in lending its territory so that the US could carry out the extraction operation of Nicolás Maduro.”
Indira Urbaneja, a pro-Government Venezuelan journalist and analyst, gave a more positive review and described the meeting as a success. On her X account, she said, “The Venezuelan President had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in New York. The Bolivarian diplomacy of peace advances and gains international recognition!!”
