CARACAS, Venezuela, (CMC) — 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, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar brushed aside comments made by the Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez warning Port of Spain against any plans of aggression against the “people of Simón Bolívar”.

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.