Venezuelan officials are raising alarm about what they claim is a significant oil spill originating from neighboring Trinidad and Tobago that has damaged coastal areas across multiple Venezuelan states.
In a statement released Saturday evening to the global community, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry reported that preliminary evaluations revealed “severe risks” to natural habitats in Sucre and Delta Amacuro states, as well as the Gulf of Paria region. Officials warn the contamination threatens mangrove forests, wetland areas, and the overall ecological stability of the Caribbean region.
Venezuelan authorities have not disclosed when they initially discovered the spill or provided estimates of the volume of oil involved. Trinidad and Tobago’s government has yet to respond to or acknowledge the spill allegations.
The Venezuelan administration has called for detailed information regarding the incident and plans for cleanup and containment efforts, while also seeking compensation measures under international environmental regulations, according to the official declaration.
Both nations share the Gulf of Paria, an enclosed body of water situated at Venezuela’s western boundary and south of Trinidad island, following a border agreement signed in the 1990s that outlined terms for developing oil and gas resources along their shared maritime boundary.
According to Trinidad’s Ministry of Energy, Trinidad and Tobago operates extensive petroleum and natural gas extraction projects both onshore and in coastal waters, ranking among the Caribbean region’s top energy producers.
