‘Venezuela a threat to Caribbean zone of peace’ – Jagdeo

Oct 04, 2025 News

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…says U.S. responding to growing dangers of cartels in Latin America

(Kaieteur News) – Venezuela continues to pose a significant threat to the Caribbean region which has been designated a zone of peace, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.

The Vice President told reporters that the presence of the United States (U.S.) military in the Caribbean is a direct response to escalating threats from Latin American drug cartels, particularly those operating out of Venezuela.

On Friday, Aljazeera reported that United States has conducted a fourth “lethal, kinetic strike” on a boat in the Caribbean Sea, accusing the vessel of carrying narcotics.

This was disclosed by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a Friday post on the social media platform X, Hegseth shared a video of the attack, which he identified as taking place near the coast of Venezuela.

The footage shows a small, narrow boat clipping across the waves before the air strike halts its momentum, leaving the vessel engulfed in flames.

Hegseth explained he directed the attack. “Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike, and no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation,” he wrote.

“The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics – headed to America to poison our people.”

The latest attack follows three similar US air strikes last month, the first of which took place on September 2. Eleven people were killed in that initial attack. A second and third strike — on September 15 and 19 respectively — killed three people a piece.

Jagdeo, at a press conference on Thursday addressed the U.S. military strikes in Caribbean waters emphasizing that Guyana, as part of the Caribbean, is situated within a region traditionally defined as a “zone of peace.”

When asked whether he approved of such attacks occurring in the region, Jagdeo placed the blame squarely on Venezuela for destabilizing that peace.

“Venezuela has been disrupting the region as a zone of peace. It is Venezuela that has threatened to annex a significant part of our country. Venezuela didn’t know that would have affected the climate of peace in the region? It is Venezuela that had threatened military action against Guyana several times. Venezuela that has been engage in provocative action against Guyana’s like sending vessels into our waters. So, the only people who are disrupting the peaceful coexistence to the countries in our region have been Venezuela,” Jagdeo stated.

Additionally, the Vice President made it clear that he does not oppose U.S. actions in the region, noting that Washington’s military interventions are aligned with its anti-drug trafficking policy.

“I don’t think the United States when they destroyed these boats, seek to get Todd or Omar, the chief of staff to seek permission to do it,” Jagdeo said.

He further explained that the United States has long established its stance on narco-trafficking, citing past actions such as placing tariffs on Mexico and negotiating anti-fentanyl measures with both Mexico and Canada. He pointed out that Venezuela has been designated by the U.S. as a major source of narcotics headed for North America and that Washington has made clear its intent to dismantle any drug trafficking routes.

“President Trump before he became president in the campaign said the countries that support drug dealing or support drug dealing or support the trafficking of drugs or the movement in drugs through their borders will face enhance scrutiny. They don’t need our support for drug enforcement or policies,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali has urged the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to examine the increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean with “eyes wide open.”

Speaking at the recently concluded 80th United Nations General Assembly, President Ali called for mature and open discussions on regional security, emphasizing the broader definition of threats beyond just border disputes, such as drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the misuse of international waterways.

“The zone of peace is not just about threats to borders. It’s also about the evolving threats we are now seeing,” Ali said. He highlighted the importance of regional collaboration, intelligence sharing, and joint discussions to fully understand the implications of growing military activity in the Caribbean.

Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago has publicly supported the United States’ deployment of naval and military assets near Venezuela, viewing it as a necessary step in combating drug trafficking in the region.

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• Caribbean, cartels, Latin America, peace, U.S. military, Venezuela

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