Venezuela hits out at Trinidad and Tobago in oil spill spat

Venezuela has accused neighboring Trinidad and Tobago of responsibility for an oil spill that has reached Venezuelan shores, raising alarms about potential environmental and economic harm.

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There is a threat to the marine ecosystems and fishing activities and coastal communities.

Caracas stated that the spill is endangering fragile ecosystems and disrupting fishing activities. Venezuela's foreign ministry demanded that Trinidad and Tobago "fully assume its responsibility by adopting immediate measures to prevent further incidents" and provide transparency regarding the spill's origins, scale, and effects. This accusation further strains relations between the two nations, which have been tense since Trinidad and Tobago's government supported U.S. actions leading to the attempted abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

In response, the government of Trinidad and Tobago stated it has deployed its Air Guard and Coast Guard for reconnaissance missions using drones to ascertain the facts of the purported spill. Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal told Reuters that the island's foreign ministry has also contacted Venezuela's embassy for more information. The government has requested specific location coordinates from Venezuela to aid its investigation.

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fully assume its responsibility by adopting immediate measures to prevent further incidents

The Venezuelan government did not specify the exact areas affected but claimed the spill was confirmed by satellite imagery. This incident echoes a similar event in February 2024, when a tanker sank in Trinidad and Tobago's waters, causing pollution that spread into Venezuelan territorial waters. Trinidad and Tobago, a small island nation, lies just 10 kilometers (six miles) off Venezuela's coast.

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The Air Guard and Coast Guard have been deployed to do reconnaissance work on the sea and with drones to determine the facts.