Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil announced on October 27 that the country has dismantled a criminal group funded by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The group was linked to a "false flag operation" planned in Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at framing Venezuela to justify aggression.
Gil stated that Venezuela will not fall for provocations but will firmly defend its sovereignty. He revealed that Venezuela has explicitly informed the Trinidad and Tobago government about the CIA-led "false flag operation," which involves plans to attack a U.S. warship docked in the country and blame Venezuela as a pretext for military action.
"Venezuela is acting with determination and responsibility," Gil said. "We hope Trinidad and Tobago will adopt the same stance and prevent its territory from being used for schemes that threaten Caribbean peace. We respect the people of Trinidad and Tobago and trust they will reject involvement in a dirty war."
On the same day, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced via television that Venezuela has reported U.S. military deployments and the "false flag operation" to international organizations. Additionally, a government committee recommended President Nicolás Maduro immediately terminate the energy cooperation framework agreement with Trinidad and Tobago and suspend the bilateral natural gas deal.
Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela are separated by the Gulf of Paria, with their coastlines as close as 10 km apart. On October 26, the U.S. missile destroyer USS Gravely docked in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and will remain until the 30th. During this period, the U.S. Marine Corps’ 22nd Expeditionary Unit conducted joint training with Trinidad and Tobago’s Defense Force.
Earlier on the 26th, Rodríguez issued a government statement condemning U.S. military exercises in the Caribbean as provocative. The statement also confirmed that Venezuela had arrested mercenaries with direct CIA ties, who were advancing the "false flag operation" in either Trinidad and Tobago or Venezuela to provoke a full-scale military conflict between Venezuela and the U.S.