Venezuela hopes to use Grenada as gateway to Caribbean – Rodriguez

Last Updated on Thursday, 9 April 2026, 22:47 by Writer

Venezuela’s Interim President, Delcy Rodriguez — on her first overseas trip since taking over the reins of power of the oil-rich South American nation — on Thursday said that she hoped that cooperation with Grenada would open the doors to relations with the wider Caribbean.

“We hope the bilateral agenda will be able to incorporate other countries in the Caribbean,” she told reporters through an interpreter alongside Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell in St George’s, the capital of that tiny Caribbean island. 

The two leaders provided no details about their plans, but Ms Rodriguez said they include teacher exchange, health, maritime and air transportation, food production, bilateral and Caribbean trade, hydrocarbons and the maritime borders.

Grenada is forging ahead with plans to restart offshore exploration for oil and gas.

The two countries also have to negotiate their maritime boundary.

Against the background of the January 3 snatching of President Nicolás Maduro by American forces and taking him to New York to face trial for drugs and weapons charges, the interim Venezuelan leader remarked on “all controversies” diplomatically and peacefully.

“We should have a diplomatic role with the US and other countries so that it is clearly understood that countries, all countries, we have a right to development,” said Ms Rodriguez, now no longer facing US sanctions for her alleged role in anti-democratic actions.

The Venezuelan leader spoke out against the oil sanctions against Cuba and her country. “The illicit sanctions have damaged greatly the people of Cuba and the people of Venezuela,” she said.

Adding that Venezuela’s relationship with Cuba “remains intact”, she said Caracas hoped that the “blockade of Cuba will stop.” “The people of Venezuela as well as the people of Cuba have a right to live free of sanctions,” she said.

At the same time, she said Venezuela was opening up a new route of cooperation with the US in different sectors, and she hoped that the region “can all move forward together.”

Grenada, Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and up to recently St Vincent and the Grenadines had enjoyed close relations with Venezuela under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez.

The Suriname Jennifer Geerlings-Simons administration that came to power last year is also seen as sympathetic to Venezuela.