Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has officially suspended all energy cooperation agreements with Trinidad and Tobago.
The move follows recommendations from Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and state oil company PDVSA.
Caracas accused the T&T government on Monday of working with the United States on a so-called “false flag” military operation involving the USS Gravely, now docked in Trinidad.
Maduro, speaking on Venezuelan state television, also lashed out at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, calling her a “lackey.”
He also accused her of promoting U.S. aggression.
The 2015 Energy Framework Agreement between both nations had recently been renewed for another five years.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Trinidad and Tobago’s future does not depend on Venezuela.
Newsday reported that the PM said her government has robust plans to grow the economy across both energy and non-energy sectors.
She took aim at the previous administration, saying the former PNM government placed all its hopes in the Dragon Gas Project — a mistake her government has avoided.
Persad-Bissessar declared that no one — not Venezuela, the PNM, Caricom, or any other entity — will pressure her administration to back down from its stance against drug cartels.
Despite the latest tensions, the Prime Minister assured that T&T continues to maintain peaceful relations with Venezuela.
