BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:--- In a sharp rebuke of escalating geopolitical tensions, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has issued a stark warning about the perilous position of small island nations caught in the crossfire of international power struggles. Addressing the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, Mottley did not mince words, describing the Caribbean as "uncharted territory" where small states are forced to navigate the "testicular fortitude" of larger powers.
The Prime Minister's comments come as Barbados grapples with immediate logistical disruptions to its airspace and ports, consequences she attributes directly to the friction between major global players. Her address highlighted a growing frustration among Caribbean nations that find their stability threatened by conflicts they did not start.
"Conflict Has Consequences"
For Barbados, the impact of the Venezuelan crisis is not theoretical; it is immediate and economic. Mottley confirmed that the island's tourism and logistics hubs—vital lifelines for the economy—have already faced disruptions.
"We are not naive," Mottley stated, addressing the nation. "We understand that where large powers contend... that may have negative impact and implications for small countries such as ours."
She emphasized that the disruptions at the Grant Adams International Airport and the Bridgetown port affect more than just travelers; they strike at the livelihoods of ordinary citizens. "Not only wealthy people visit our nation," she noted, underscoring the vulnerability of the local economy to external shocks.
A Rules-Based Order Under Siege
Central to Mottley’s critique is the erosion of the international rules-based order, a framework she argues is existential for small states. She expressed deep concern over the "blatant breach" of international norms, suggesting that the world is regressing to a more dangerous, unstable era.
"In 2018, when I first addressed the United Nations, I said then that this world looks too much like it did a hundred years ago," Mottley recalled. "Regrettably, I have come to rue the day that I made that comment."
The Prime Minister painted a picture of a region lurching from "crisis to crisis"—from pandemics and cost-of-living surges to climate disasters and now, geopolitical instability. She argued that the current global environment leaves little room for "mature conversation," urging a de-escalation of hostilities before the fallout becomes unmanageable.
Navigating the Storm
Despite the critical tone, Mottley's message was also one of resilience and pragmatic leadership. She described the government’s current strategy as "perfecting the art of walking in between the raindrops," a metaphor for the precise and cautious diplomacy required to protect national interests without alienating powerful allies like the United States or Venezuela.
While maintaining that both nations remain "friends" of Barbados, she firmly aligned the country's foreign policy with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), prioritizing regional unity over unilateral alignment.
"Small states can only survive in an international rules-based order," she reiterated. "Anything that happens that runs contrary to that would be of grave concern to us as a people."
As tensions continue to simmer in Caracas, Mottley's words serve as a potent reminder that in the "playground" of global politics, it is often the smallest nations that suffer the most immediate bruising.
