Living in interesting times

THE EDITOR: Sometimes having too many friends, or being friendly with too many people – or in the case of TT, too many nations – may not necessarily be a good thing.

From the top of my head, I know we are on friendly relations with Guyana, Venezuela, the US and our former colonial master, the UK.

From these diplomatic relations, TT derives certain benefits. But what happens when our friends squabble among each other? What then? Who's side do we as a nation take?

At this moment, in the geopolitics of the region, TT is in some interesting but also uncomfortable times.

It is a known fact that the Rowley government has bent over backwards to maintain friendly relations with Maduro and his clique in Caracas and the benefit of this has been the Dragon gas deal.

We also have very cordial relations with Guyana, so much so that we Trinis think nothing of ordering a roti chicken when we're in Georgetown, the same way that Guyanese living or visiting TT will order a chicken roti.

Venezuela is trying to muscle in on the vast Essequibo region which the world currently recognises as being part of the sovereign state of Guyana. And for good reason, as the Essequibo is rich in many natural resources including precious metal, teak and, off its coast – oil and gas.

Guyana is resisting this. There is a very real possibility that if and when diplomacy fails, military action could be taken in the form of conquest from Caracas and defence from Georgetown.

Smack dab in this middle of this ever-worsening conflict is tiny yet very influential Trinidad and Tobago, which is a mere seven nautical miles off the coast of Venezuela,

So far, the Rowley government's position is to side with the view of Caricom, and this view is that Guyana has a right to the Essequibo and that the resolution to this issue is through dialogue and if need be, the international courts.

So far, Venezuela has been very careful in its condemnation of Caricom's stated position while not specifically targeting TT's position in the form of condemnation from the Caracas office of El Presidente Maduro.

But as the days and weeks progress, the middle ground on which TT stands could very well narrow until this government could find itself walking on a tightrope over a precipice.

If, God forbid, military force is used, whether in the form of conquest, defence, or both, where would TT stand? With Guyana or Venezuela?

There could be very difficult days ahead for TT in terms of international diplomacy and the geopolitics. It would be very interesting to see how Dr Rowley, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Browne and even Opposition Leader Mrs Persad-Bissessar respond to the ever-worsening diplomatic row between these two powerful South American countries.

We are living in interesting times.

LEE MERRICK

San Fernando