Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago has been criticized for her September 26 UN speech that endorses the American plan of targeting narco-traffickers in Venezuela and the authoritarian Maduro regime. PM Kamla’s support for USA in its planned action against Venezuela is a very complex issue. She coined her speech in terms of security of T&T – address threat posed by syndicated criminal enterprise and an authoritarian regime next door. It was a well delivered speech worthy of praise.
She sees narco-trafficking as threatening the region as a zone of peace. Several of her CARICOM colleagues as well as critics and detractors take the opposite position that the American military strikes on narco boats and planned strikes on Venezuelan soil disrupt the area as a zone of peace. The PM is right in how she sees the threat posed by Venezuela to T&T. The PM has the backing of the population in her pro-American position as well as standing up to Venezuela whose criminal gangs have posed a serious threat to peace and stability in Trinidad and the region as well; Trinibagonians enthusiastically support Kamla on her toughness against Venezuela and the criminals.
It must not be forgotten that a government pursues the interests of its nation; Kamla and her government know what’s best for the country and how to champion its interests just like Keith Rowley and his administration felt when they ran the affairs of the nation. She has her own reading of the security challenges and the concept of zone of peace in T&T and the Caribbean. International relations and diplomacy in the region as pursued by USA is not the same as it was when Dr Rowley led the government. President Trump pursues a narrow ultra-nationalist American agenda and invokes punitive measures against those (including leaders, countries, and people) who opposes American interests. Thus, Kamla must thread carefully in T&T’s foreign policy vis-à-vis USA, especially on Venezuela. Besides, Venezuelan officials a couple months ago made threatening statements against T&T. Kamla’s administration needs American support against Maduro’s threats.
Also, it must not be forgotten that a few hundred thousands Trinibagonians live in America with hundreds of thousands more having visas to visit, work, study in USA; no policy should be taken that would jeopardize their status or lead to cancellation of visas. Kamla must not pander to CARICOM leaders who cloak self-interests with regional interests and jeopardize relations with Trump. The PM has the backing of Washington which matters more than what her CARICOM colleagues say on matters pertaining to Venezuela and the region as a zone of peace. On Venezuela, T&T can’t afford to be “neutral” when tens of thousands of Venezuelans, criminal gangs, drug traffickers and their goods other negative elements have been streaming across the porous water border. Kamla and her government need American support to stem the tide against T&T. And President Trump values support of T&T and the neighbors of Venezuela to go after narco-traffickers. Guyana is supporting the American position. T&T must do the same.
Other CARICOM countries have their own national interests that don’t coincide with those of T&T. T&T is feeling the pressure of Venezuelan criminal gangs operating in Trinidad and is also facing American stiff tariff, the relief of which is being discussed in Washington. T&T must purse a course of action and a foreign policy that is in its best interests, not what is in the interests of other member states of CARICOM that don’t share any border with Venezuela and whose countries are not threatened by Venezuelan criminal gangs and narco-trafficker. Kamla has taken a position that she thinks will help to secure economic and strategic interests of T&T.
Unlike most of her CARICOM colleagues, she ties peace and security with narco-trafficking and organised crime as well as on border conflicts and threats from the Venezuelan regime. She smartly supports the attacks (fighting fire with fire) on drug boats off T&T and Venezuela. That is high, savvy politics, coming from someone who masters current American foreign policy in the region. It is the right policy if T&T does not want to face the wrath of Washington. And besides, there is broad consensus (leaving out elements in the political opposition) in T&T for support of USA because of the threat posed by the criminal elements of Venezuela crossing into Trinidad and a recent veiled threat by Maduro regime against T&T. In addition, she also has the full support of the diaspora in USA where she was warmly received. The diaspora and the population at home praise her pro-American position and strong leadership in championing T&T interests.
*Dr Vishnu Bisram is a specialist in Int’l Rels
