The recent seizure of an oil tanker by United States military forces has had swift repercussions on Trinidad & Tobago, accused by Venezuela of collaborating with the U.S. in an act of piracy. 

In a communique shared on Monday by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela announced the decision to “immediately terminate any contract, agreement, or negotiation for the supply of natural gas” to Trinidad & Tobago. 

The announcement blames Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for pursuing “a hostile agenda against Venezuela since her arrival in government.” In pursuit of this agenda, Ms. Persad-Bisessar has “turned the territory of Trinidad and Tobago into a U.S. aircraft carrier,” Venezuela alleges, calling the country's hosting of U.S. troops and equipment “an unequivocal act of vassalage.”

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar reportedly responded via WhatsApp message to Trinidadian journalists, dismissing Venezuela's allegations. She reportedly placed full responsibility for the oil tanker seizure on the United States, suggesting that Venezuela take the issue up with President Trump. “In the meantime we continue to have peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people,” Ms. Persad-Bissessar is reported to have said.

In her WhatsApp message to Newsday journalists, the Trinidadian prime minister also downplayed the impact to local industry of the abrupt cessation of the country's Venezuelan oil supply. Trinidad & Tobago has “adequate reserves” of natural gas and has “never depended on Venezuela” for supplies of that product, Ms. Persad-Bissessar said. The problem is bureaucracy, which is “hindering our exploration and production.” Trinidad & Tobago is “aggressively working” on eliminating bureaucratic friction to “speed up approvals for energy companies,” Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said.