CARACAS, Venezuela (CMC) – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Monday questioned the positions adopted by Trinidad and Tobago, accusing the country’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad Bissessar of making “almost like a declaration of war” against the South American country.

“Who is behind this? Who is whispering in the ears of this lady? How is she able to declare this?” Maduro told a news conference, linking Persad Bissessar’s comments to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he described as “the lord of death and war, of hate,” and accusing him of spreading violence.

“I am sure the people of Trinidad and Tobago are against this. We are neighbouring countries. You know that Trinidad and Tobago was sold by the Spanish Empire to the British Empire a few years before the independence of Venezuela,” Maduro told reporters.

He said that Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago have shared “a life of cooperation and brotherhood”, adding, “there has never been a governor of Trinidad and Tobago to threaten a war against Venezuela”.

Last Friday, Persad Bissessar brushed aside comments made by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, warning Port of Spain against any plans of aggression against the “people of Simón Bolívar”.

“Don’t even think about it,” Rodriguez said, as Venezuela last Thursday announced the deployment of the Independence 200 Plan, which will allow for the participation of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and the militias on “284 battle fronts” to guarantee “the independence and peace” of that country.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament building, Persad Bissessar said, “ I would dare to do what I have to do to keep the people of Trinidad and Tobago safe.”

“That is my priority. I have said T&T first. That’s my priority,”  she added.

Persad Bissessar, who is due to attend the United Nations General Assembly later this month, told reporters, “We have no intention of invading Venezuela or stepping on Venezuelan soil. Nothing of this sort is happening.”

“With respect to the American presence…they have been here before. This is not the first time. They have been here before and I said I welcome them if that could help us stem the criminality, the narco-trafficking, the human trafficking and the pain and suffering that brings to the people here, then yes, we welcome them,”  she added.

The Persad Bissessar administration has come out publicly in support of the United States (US) sending naval and military troops to waters near Venezuela as part of Washington’s crackdown on nacro-trafficking.

Last week, Persad Bissessar praised the US military strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel in the southern Caribbean, which the White House said had killed 11 “narco-terrorists” who were part of the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang.

On Monday, President Donald Trump said three people have been killed in a second US strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat.