Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago Agree on New Cooperation Agenda in NYC

• Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation, signalling a renewed phase of engagement between the neighbouring Caribbean states. The agreement was reached on September 23, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, with both governments reaffirming their commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, good-neighbourliness and cooperation.
• The renewed engagement follows a period of heightened tensions between the two countries, particularly over T&T’s position on the United States’ (U.S.) actions involving Venezuela, as well as maritime and environmental issues. Relations have also been tested by disputes surrounding oil spills affecting Venezuelan waters and fishing areas, while broader regional tensions have emerged over security and U.S. policy toward Venezuela.
• Against this backdrop, the two governments have moved to establish a more structured cooperation agenda spanning trade, energy, agriculture, tourism, air connectivity, environmental protection, security and disaster-risk management. The breadth of the agenda provides scope for closer commercial ties while addressing areas of shared regional interest.
• Energy cooperation is likely to remain particularly significant given the countries’ geographic proximity and shared natural-gas interests. Both sides have strategic interests in the development and exploitation of natural-gas resources, meaning deeper engagement could support opportunities for greater regional energy cooperation and strengthen T&T’s links with Venezuela’s energy sector. The agenda also extends beyond economic cooperation into security and regional resilience, including maritime security, migration management and disaster-risk coordination.
• The two governments now intend to translate the renewed dialogue into concrete initiatives, with President Delcy Rodríguez and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar agreeing to make official visits to Caracas and Port of Spain. For the wider Caribbean, sustained implementation of the agenda could strengthen trade, energy and regional cooperation, although progress will depend on how effectively the two sides manage the security, environmental and geopolitical issues that have recently strained relations.

(Sources: teleSUR, Reuters, and AP News)