Venezuela has severed a critical natural gas pact with Trinidad and Tobago, accusing its Caribbean neighbor of complicity in what it terms an act of "piracy" by the United States.

The diplomatic rupture follows the seizure of the Skipper tanker and its cargo of nearly 2 million barrels of crude. For Kenyans watching global energy markets, this escalation signals potential volatility in fuel prices as geopolitical fault lines deepen in the Western Hemisphere. While the specific value of the cargo was not disclosed, 2 million barrels of heavy crude represents a significant financial blow, estimated at over $140 million (approx. KES 18.1 billion) at current market rates.

The 'Piracy' Accusation

In a blistering statement released on Monday via Telegram, the Maduro regime alleged that Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) facilitated the interception of the vessel on December 10. Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez did not mince words, characterizing the incident as "the theft of Venezuelan oil" and a violation of free navigation principles.

Rodríguez directed her ire specifically at T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, accusing her administration of reducing the island nation to an "aircraft carrier of the American empire." The statement described the alleged cooperation with Washington as an "act of vassalage."

Strategic Fallout

The consequences of this standoff were immediate. Caracas announced the termination of all negotiations regarding natural gas supplies between the two nations. This decision effectively kills the long-discussed development of the Dragon field—a massive reserve in Venezuelan waters holding an estimated 4.2 trillion cubic feet of gas.

This cancellation reverses diplomatic progress made in October, when the US had granted T&T permission to bypass sanctions and negotiate the deal. The collapse of this agreement removes a potential energy lifeline for the region and tightens the economic noose around Venezuela.

The US Pressure Campaign

The seizure comes amidst a renewed four-month pressure campaign by Donald Trump against Nicolás Maduro. The geopolitical chess game has intensified in the Caribbean, with T&T recently admitting it would grant US military access to its airports.

• Radar Installation: T&T officials confirmed the installation of a new radar system, ostensibly to combat local crime.
• Military Access: The government stated US forces would have airport access in the coming weeks.
• Denial of Aggression: T&T maintains the infrastructure will not serve as a launchpad for attacks on neighbors.

Despite these assurances, the optics of US military expansion in the Caribbean have clearly antagonized Caracas. Analysts warn that as major oil producers engage in brinkmanship, the ripple effects on supply chains often reach import-dependent nations like Kenya, where pump prices are highly sensitive to global disruptions.