Friday 19th June 2026

Diplomatic tensions between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela have intensified after Caracas accused its Caribbean neighbour of being responsible for a second major oil spill that it claims has contaminated Venezuelan waters, threatened marine ecosystems and disrupted fishing communities along its northeastern coast.

The dispute marks the latest flashpoint in an already strained bilateral relationship, with Venezuela warning that it may seek compensation and pursue action through international bodies if Trinidad and Tobago is found liable for the alleged environmental damage.

In a strongly worded statement, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said satellite imagery had confirmed that a hydrocarbon slick originating from Trinidad and Tobago had drifted into Venezuelan waters. The Ministry argued that the latest incident was larger than a similar spill reported in May and posed serious environmental risks.

“This event exceeds in magnitude the one that occurred in May and confirms the drift of pollutants toward Venezuelan waters,” the Venezuelan government said.

Caracas warned that the spill represented a growing threat to marine life, fishing activity and coastal communities. “There is a threat to the marine ecosystems and fishing activities and coastal communities,” said the Foreign Ministry, while demanding that Trinidad and Tobago “fully assume its responsibility by adopting immediate measures to prevent further incidents.”

The Venezuelan government further declared that it “reserves the right to take appropriate action before the competent international bodies to determine responsibility, demand any applicable compensation, and prevent the recurrence of similar events.”

Officials said state agencies had activated mitigation protocols and intensified environmental monitoring in affected coastal areas. Reports circulating on social media showed black oil-like substances coating seaweed washing ashore near Punto Guiria on Venezuela’s northeastern coast, fuelling public concern about the potential impact on tourism and fishing livelihoods.

“I am calling on the authorities, or whoever controls this, or the Government of Trinidad, to ensure that when this happens, it’s regulated or controlled as best as possible so that the tourist area of the municipality isn’t damaged any further,” said one resident, appealing for action.

Trinidad and Tobago, however, has pushed back against the allegations and says it has found no evidence supporting claims of a significant spill.

Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal said government agencies had immediately launched investigations after learning of Venezuela’s accusations. Surveillance operations involving the Air Guard, Coast Guard and drone technology were deployed to search for signs of contamination.

“The Air Guard and Coast Guard have been deployed to do reconnaissance work on the sea and with drones to determine the facts,” Moonilal told Reuters.

The minister said Trinidad and Tobago had formally requested coordinates from Venezuelan authorities to help verify the reported spill and conduct an independent assessment. He also revealed that Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers had engaged directly with the Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain and that discussions with Venezuelan Ambassador Alvero Enrique Sanchez Cordero had been cordial and focused on information sharing.

State-owned Heritage Petroleum, which became a focal point of the controversy because of previous spill allegations, also rejected claims that a major release of hydrocarbons had occurred.

Following field inspections, vessel patrols and reviews of operational monitoring systems, the company reported no irregularities. “Currently, there is no evidence to support the presence of large amounts of hydrocarbons in the sea,” Heritage stated.

The company added that surveillance conducted alongside the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard had revealed “no visible slicks or marine abnormalities,” although investigations remain ongoing.

The latest accusations revive memories of earlier disputes between the two countries. In May, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused Trinidad and Tobago of failing to communicate adequately following a leak at Heritage Petroleum’s Riser Platform No. 2 in the Main Soldado Field. Venezuela claimed that incident threatened mangroves, wetlands and marine biodiversity, while Trinidad and Tobago maintained the leak involved only about 10 barrels of oil and had been successfully contained.

The current row also follows broader political tensions that have emerged over the past year. Relations between the neighbours deteriorated after Trinidad and Tobago’s government adopted a tougher stance on Venezuelan migration and publicly supported US actions that resulted in military intervention and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Environmental groups in Trinidad and Tobago are urging greater transparency as the dispute unfolds. Fishermen and Friends of the Sea warned that repeated reports of spills are undermining confidence in marine resources and harming fishing communities already facing declining catches and economic uncertainty.

With Caracas insisting that satellite evidence confirms the spill and Port of Spain maintaining that investigations have found no signs of contamination, the dispute appears set to test diplomatic relations between the two energy-producing neighbours while raising broader questions about environmental accountability in the Gulf of Paria.

Source: Caribbean Insight – Volume 48, Issue 12