Imagine waking up to the roar of the ocean, only to realize that your daily routine of casting nets and hauling in fish could suddenly turn deadly due to a brewing international standoff. That's the terrifying reality facing fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago right now, caught in the crossfire between the United States and Venezuela. But here's where it gets controversial: are these military actions protecting lives, or are they recklessly endangering innocent people? Let's dive into this gripping story and uncover the layers most people overlook.
Picture this: On a serene afternoon in a tranquil Caribbean village, Kenrick Modie wraps up his work untangling a fishing net. As he lounges in his hammock with a view of the sparkling sea, a heavy worry settles in—his very existence and source of income might be obliterated by an American military assault. Modie calls home the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, a place now deeply embroiled in a tense geopolitical clash between the U.S. and Venezuela, separated by just 11 miles of water.
Modie expresses deep concern, stating that U.S. President Trump is issuing orders to 'shoot and kill,' referencing recent American military operations aimed at suspected drug-trafficking ships in the Caribbean, as the U.S. ramps up its naval presence. 'What could we do? We're just a little dot,' he laments, highlighting the vulnerability of his small nation.
The United States has executed at least four attacks on boats believed to be carrying narcotics in Venezuelan waters over the past few weeks, with two of those vessels reportedly hailing from Venezuela. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed details of the latest strike on Friday, confirming the deaths of 'four male narco-terrorists'—a term that, for beginners, refers to individuals involved in drug trafficking who use violence or terror tactics—but provided no further information about their identities. You can read more about it here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hegseth-us-strike-alleged-drug-boat-venezuela-kills-narco-terrorists/.
President Trump notified Congress, in a document reviewed by CBS News, that the U.S. is engaged in an 'armed conflict' with Caribbean drug syndicates, accusing them of attempting to flood American shores with lethal substances. On the other side, Venezuela has leveled accusations against the U.S. for escalating military activity and hostility, leading President Nicolás Maduro to put the nation's armed forces and volunteer civilians on high alert. Check out Venezuela's perspective here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-maduro-state-emergency-us-military-strikes-alleged-drug-boats/.
Sandwiched between these superpowers is Trinidad and Tobago, a country boasting a fishing sector worth millions that supports thousands of workers who rely on daily catches to feed their families. And this is the part most people miss: the human cost of these high-stakes games, where everyday livelihoods hang in the balance.
Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has acknowledged the harm caused by drug gangs in her nation and even called for the U.S. to 'kill them all violently.' She also offered to allow American forces access to her country's territory if it helps protect Guyana from Venezuelan claims on two-thirds of its land. For context, this territorial dispute has simmered for years, with Venezuela asserting historical rights over the region. Maduro, however, views Persad-Bissessar's stance as an act of war against Venezuela and has appealed for restored friendly ties with Trinidad and Tobago, despite the government's insistence that relations remain cordial.
While leaders exchange heated rhetoric and generals posture militarily, countless fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago feel their safety is under siege amid the U.S. operations and rising Venezuelan tensions. 'If we die, we die, that's how this life is,' Modie resigns himself, fearing accidental targeting by U.S. forces mistaking his fishing boat for a drug runner. He questions the proof that the strike victims were actually smuggling narcotics and worries about blameless fishermen being slain and wrongly branded as narco-terrorists, leaving the deceased unable to defend themselves.
Fishing under constant fear has become the harsh new norm. Just seven miles at the narrowest point separate Trinidad from Venezuela, and on a clear day, you can spot Venezuela from the village of Icacos on Trinidad's southwestern edge. Driving through Icacos and the nearby Cedros, you'll see boats lining the shore, underscoring how vital fishing is to these communities.
Locals here already battle pirates, and now the increased military activity adds another perilous layer. Observing fellow fishermen offloading their day's haul at the Cedros Fishing Complex, Kamal Bikeran explains that his team now sticks to shallower waters, venturing less far out due to the friction among the three nations. 'The U.S. has come there, and the Venezuelan military is saying they are more present, so you have to watch out,' he warns. 'At any point in time, outside there, you could be taken out.'
Staying in safer, shallower areas means fewer fish for Bikeran and his peers, squeezing their incomes as catches dwindle. President Trump fueled these anxieties after the initial strike on September 2, which he claimed eliminated 11 alleged narco-terrorists. 'Boat traffic is substantially down,' he noted in early September. 'I don't even know about fishermen. They may say, "I'm not getting on the boat."' He echoed this at a Navy anniversary event in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday, boasting, 'We're so good at it that there are no boats. In fact, even fishing boats. Nobody wants to go into the water anymore.'
At the United Nations General Assembly in late September, Caribbean leaders championed their region as a 'zone of peace.' Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Mottley urged talks to avert conflict between the U.S. and Venezuela, while St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves called the foreign military presence near Venezuela 'exceedingly troubling.'
For Shyam Hajarie, a 40-plus-year veteran fisherman from Cedros, this anxiety defines daily life. Like many, he counts on his catches to sustain his family and wonders if the naval buildup will drive up market prices for fish. 'Just praying that everything works out with this situation with Venezuela and the U.S.,' he hopes. 'That they make peace and not war.'
But here's the controversial twist: Is the U.S. truly combating a drug threat, or is this an overreach that risks innocent lives? And what about Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister's bold call for violence—does that align with peace, or is it a necessary stand? These actions raise big questions about international law, sovereignty, and the ethics of preemptive strikes. Do you believe the U.S. strikes are a justified defense against drug cartels, or do they unfairly endanger civilians like these fishermen? Should small nations like Trinidad and Tobago align with superpowers, potentially sparking wars? Share your opinions in the comments—we'd love to hear your take!
- Venezuela (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/venezuela/)
- Caribbean (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/caribbean/)
- Drug Cartels (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/drug-cartels/)
- Donald Trump (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/donald-trump/)
