A new era in Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela relations is being ushered in following the development of a roadmap aimed at strengthening cooperation in key areas ranging from energy and agriculture to security, which is to be led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez.
The initiative emerged after Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers and his Venezuelan counterpart, Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Félix Plasencia, met in Caracas yesterday and agreed on a work agenda to guide future collaboration between the two countries.
The new phase of relations to be led by Persad-Bissessar and Rodríguez will be grounded in “mutual respect, understanding and good neighbourliness,” according to the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs.
Sobers was accompanied by Permanent Secretary and Head of the Foreign Service Randall Karim, officials from the Ministry’s Americas Division and the Defence Attaché at T&T’s Embassy in Caracas.
The delegation departed Trinidad at about 8.15 am and returned shortly after 7 pm yesterday.
Upon arrival at Simón Bolívar International Airport, the delegation was welcomed by officials from T&T’s Embassy in Caracas and senior Venezuelan government representatives before proceeding to Casa Amarilla, the headquarters of Venezuela’s Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
In a statement, the ministry said the visit underscored T&T’s commitment to active diplomatic engagement, regional security and constructive dialogue with its nearest South American neighbour.
It said discussions focused on expanding trade and economic cooperation, agriculture and fisheries, national security, maritime and border security, immigration, and energy development for the benefit of both countries.
The T&T delegation also delivered three tonnes of medical supplies and humanitarian aid collected by the Venezuelan Embassy in T&T to assist victims of the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
The shipment was transported by Caribbean Airlines on behalf of the Health Ministry and in collaboration with the Foreign and Caricom Affairs Ministry, and followed an earlier delivery of relief supplies in July.
‘Productive meeting’
Following the one-day visit, both governments issued a joint statement describing the engagement as the start of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago welcome the visit of the Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Sean Sobers, whose visit marks a new chapter in diplomatic relations between the neighbouring countries,” the statement said.
It added that the foreign ministers held a “productive meeting” and designed a work agenda to facilitate the beginning of a new era in relations between the two nations.
The statement said the agenda, to be led by Rodríguez and Persad-Bissessar, would serve as “a roadmap for heightened cooperation” in several priority areas, including trade, energy, agriculture, sustainable development, environmental protection, culture and collective security.
The statement said the roadmap aims to deepen commercial ties, support economic growth, strengthen food security, promote environmental sustainability in the Caribbean, encourage greater cultural integration and enhance cooperation on security matters.
Venezuela also expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by T&T following the earthquakes.
Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining permanent channels of communication to advance the agreed agenda, while adhering to international law and promoting the economic and social development of both peoples.
As part of the visit, Sobers presented diplomatic gifts to Plasencia, including a painting depicting the Magnificent Seven buildings around the Queen’s Park Savannah and a selection of locally crafted artisan chocolates.
Also attending the meeting were Venezuela’s First Vice Minister Oliver Blanco, Vice Minister for the Caribbean Raúl Li Causi, Vice Minister of International Business Marymna Saadtjian and Venezuela’s Ambassador to T&T, Álvaro Enrique Sánchez Cordero.
The ministry’s statement did not indicate whether Persad-Bissessar remains subject to the “persona non grata” designation imposed by Venezuela’s National Assembly during her 2025 dispute with Venezuelan authorities.
Sobers did not respond to Guardian Media’s questions on how he would characterise the visit or whether he considered it successful up to press time. He also did not respond to queries on which areas achieved the greatest progress, whether Venezuela sought any conditions for renewed engagement, or whether discussions included possible visits by Persad-Bissessar or Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal to Venezuela. Questions on whether Sobers extended an invitation for Rodríguez to visit T&T also went unanswered.
Persad-Bissessar also did not respond to questions regarding the ministry’s statement, her expectations for future engagement with Venezuela or whether she intends to visit Caracas.
Moonilal also did not respond to requests for comment on the significance of Sobers’ visit, its implications for T&T’s energy sector or the Prime Minister’s role in improving bilateral relations.
The visit has been hailed by Government officials as the reopening of channels between the two countries following a period of strained relations linked to tensions between Persad-Bissessar and Venezuelan officials during the US-led Caribbean counter-cartel military operation conducted between August 2025 and early 2026.
Relations appeared to improve following the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores during a US military operation in Caracas and T&T’s humanitarian assistance to Venezuela in July. Subsequent exchanges between Rodríguez and Persad-Bissessar were notably cordial.
Young: No substance
from Sobers’ visit
Former energy minister and People’s National Movement (PNM) Stuart Young has criticised what he described as the “highly touted” visit by Sobers to Caracas yesterday, noting that the trip took 16 months to materialise.
“And not surprisingly, Sobers and the UNC spent the day pushing out social media public relations posts about his use of a CAL 737 jet to fly to Caracas. So far, it has been all spin and paid social media coverage with no substance. He should have just taken a selfie,” Young said.
Young argued that the significance of the visit was not only who the T&T delegation met with, but also who they did not meet.
“Apart from whom the team met with, in particular, it’s who they didn’t meet with,” he said, in an apparent reference to Venezuelan interim President Rodríguez being absent from the meeting.
He added: “It would be naive and foolish for this UNC Government to believe that our neighbours have forgotten Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s vicious attacks on acting President Rodríguez from 2018 to 2026. There are consequences for the lack of diplomacy and the spewing of hateful words in and out of Parliament by Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other UNC members.”
Young also suggested there may be tensions within the Government’s energy portfolio.
“It’s also clear that Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal, who was absent from the Trinidad and Tobago team, is being undermined and sidelined and may soon be removed,” he said.
Meanwhile, PNM Senator Dr Amery Browne noted that Rodríguez paid a state visit to Grenada a few months ago and recently hosted Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on a state visit.
Browne said: “It’s telling and unfortunate that Venezuela’s closest Caribbean neighbour, Trinidad and Tobago, with far more at stake, particularly regarding its energy sector requirements, finds itself at a significant strategic disadvantage, represented merely at the ministerial level and trying to catch up in an arena in which we were once positioned as leaders.”
