---
title: "Venezuela condemns 'military provocation' by CIA and Trinidad and Tobago"
description: "Oct 26 (Reuters) - Venezuela on Sunday condemned what it said was a military provocation by neighboring Trinidad and Tobago in coordination with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, aimed at spurring a full military confrontation with the Latin American nation."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-10-27-venezuela-condemns-military-provocation-by-cia-and-trinidad-and-tobago/"
published: "2025-10-27T04:39:14"
updated: "2025-10-27T04:39:16"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 235
---

# Venezuela condemns 'military provocation' by CIA and Trinidad and Tobago

> Oct 26 (Reuters) - Venezuela on Sunday condemned what it said was a military provocation by neighboring Trinidad and Tobago in coordination with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, aimed at spurring a full military confrontation with the Latin American nation.

By Reuters · Published 27 October 2025, 06:39 SAST · Updated 27 October 2025, 06:39 SAST

## Key points
- As U.S. troops join forces with Trinidad and Tobago in a Caribbean military tango, Venezuela claims to have snagged a band of mercenaries allegedly plotting a false-flag caper, leaving everyone wondering if this is a geopolitical thriller or just another episode of "As the Tropics Turn."
- U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago conduct joint military exercises amid Venezuela's claims of capturing mercenaries linked to American intelligence.
- Venezuela alleges a false flag attack is imminent, aimed at provoking military confrontation with the U.S.
- Vice President Delcy Rodriguez's statement lacks evidence for the false flag accusations.
- Tensions escalate as Trump authorizes CIA operations in Venezuela and the Pentagon increases military presence in the Caribbean.

## Content

Joint military exercises between the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago are currently underway in the Caribbean and Venezuela said it had captured a group of mercenaries "with direct information of the American intelligence agency" and whose goal it was to carry out a false-flag attack in the region.

A false flag attack is an operation when an act is carried out in such a way that a different party appears responsible.

"A false flag attack is underway in waters bordering Trinidad and Tobago or from Trinidadian or Venezuelan territory to generate a full military confrontation with our country," Venezuela's government said in the statement.

The statement, issued by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, did not offer further details or evidence of the false flag attack accusations.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed reports that he [authorized the CIA](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3UB01O&linkedFromStory=true) to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has levied accusations of false flag attacks before, including a plan to [plant explosives](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL6N3VN0JN&linkedFromStory=true)in the U.S. embassy in Caracas in early October.

The U.S. State Department and the CIA were not immediately available for comment.

Trump has carried out a [number of strikes on boats](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL6N3VY0OW&linkedFromStory=true) in the Caribbean and Pacific that the administration claims are trafficking drugs. The Pentagon escalated its military build-up in the Caribbean this Friday by [deploying the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3W50R7&linkedFromStory=true).

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Lincoln Feast)