It Could Happen Here — Caribbean Roundtable (October 27, 2025)
Cool Zone Media & iHeartPodcasts
Host: Robert Evans
Panelists: Michael Palberg (VCU, Center for National Policy), Andrew (Trinidad and Tobago)
Episode Overview
This roundtable episode addresses the escalating crisis in the Caribbean, catalyzed by the United States’ campaign of drone strikes against small vessels. The discussion focuses on the regional political fallout, the ramifications for affected Caribbean countries (especially Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela), the nature of U.S. interventions in the region, and the roles of various state and non-state actors. The panelists—experts in organized crime, regional politics, and activism—unpack the complexities underlying U.S. narratives about “narco-terrorism” and provide insight into the lived realities and responses within Caribbean societies.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. US Drone Strikes in the Caribbean: Context & Claims
[03:29–05:16]
- The United States administration (Trump, second term) has conducted at least seven drone strikes on small boats, with over 32 killed—including nationals from multiple countries.
- Official justification: strikes target vessels allegedly carrying Venezuelan criminals tied to "narco-terrorism."
- Among the dead: Venezuelan, Colombian, and two Trinidad and Tobago nationals.
- Political fallout: Colombia withdraws diplomats, tariffs and sanctions emerge, and regional political turmoil escalates.
Key Quote:
"The US is bringing its war on terrorism logic to the Western Hemisphere... And this has sparked…significant political turmoil in the Western Hemisphere."
— Host [03:29]
2. Who Are the Real ‘Narco-Terrorist’ Groups?
[05:16–07:05]
- Michael Palberg clarifies: The Reinde Aragua (Tren de Aragua) is a Venezuelan criminal group, but primarily involved in human trafficking and extortion, not international drug smuggling.
- Their activity closely follows the Venezuelan diaspora, preying on migrants—not functioning as a “cartel” akin to historically infamous ones (Sinaloa, etc.).
- US claims of fentanyl/cocaine trafficking from Venezuela are highly dubious; Venezuela isn’t a coca producer, and fentanyl is largely produced elsewhere.
- It’s more likely the strikes hit migrant smuggling boats or innocent civilians.
Key Quote:
"It is highly unlikely...if the Trump administration is striking boats that they claim to be vessels transporting cocaine or fentanyl…those are not made in Venezuela."
— Michael Palberg [06:18]
3. Colombian Political Response & US-Colombia Relations
[07:05–11:25]
- Significant pushback from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, himself now absurdly accused by the US of being a “drug trafficker.”
- Palberg summarizes Petro’s history as a left-wing politician, former guerrilla (M19—not deeply involved with drugs), critical of the war on drugs, but inherits deep US-Colombia security ties.
- Recent breakdown of Colombia’s internal peace process has seen renewed violence but nowhere near historic civil war levels.
- US accusations are seen as both baseless and inflammatory.
Key Quotes:
"To accuse the President of [Colombia] of being a drug crafter is fairly ludicrous."
— Host [09:38]
"Petro has been very critical of the war on drugs approach generally, but…he is not exactly a full-on peacenik when it comes to his own internal security."
— Michael Palberg [09:54]
4. Trinidad and Tobago: Internal Turmoil and Alignment with the US
[11:32–18:17]
- Andrew describes the fallout for Trinidad & Tobago, where the government is silent after two nationals are killed by US strikes.
- Recent elections brought the pro-US United National Congress (UNC) to power, led by Kamala Persad-Bissessar, who has furthered Trinidad’s alignment with the US, to the region’s consternation.
- Criticism over lack of support for victims’ families and shift away from CARICOM’s “zone of peace” ideals.
- The new government is called a “satellite state” to US policy and accused of abandoning regional solidarity.
Key Quote:
"She has called for the US to kill them all violently, extrajudicially, and stated that she is perfectly aligned with what the US is doing in the region, despite its flagrant violations of international law."
— Andrew [15:30]
Notable Context:
“Trinidad & Tobago… is about 11 kilometers away from Venezuela itself.”
— Andrew [12:44]
5. US Military Posturing & Prospects for Regime Change
[24:39–30:03]
- Discussion pivots to long-term US goals: regime change in Venezuela or disruption of organized crime?
- Michael Palberg casts doubt on the military feasibility (Venezuela is large, US deployments small relative to serious invasion).
- Historical analogies (Noriega, Panama) are ill-fitting: vastly different scale and context.
- The US record of failed regime change attempts (Iraq, elsewhere) is highlighted.
Key Quotes:
"The idea that this is a counternarcotics operation doesn't hold up. Clearly it is meant to be more of a regime change operation."
— Michael Palberg [27:41]
"Even if somehow they were to drone strike [Maduro]…the regime as a whole would [not] fall because it is an extremely militarized regime."
— Michael Palberg [29:15]
6. Venezuelan Politics & The Opposition
[22:58–36:51]
- Overview of Venezuela’s 2024 election, allegedly brokered under US sanctions for fair participation, producing an official Maduro win many consider stolen.
- Maria Corina Machado (opposition leader) wins Nobel Prize, possibly to encourage US moderation. Seen as courageous but hardline, holds appeal especially as disillusionment with Maduro deepens.
- The opposition remains fractured, and sanctions/regime change strategies have largely failed to produce meaningful reform—or relief for ordinary Venezuelans.
Key Quotes:
"Everyone basically admits at this point that he [Maduro] stole the election. But what are you going to do about it?"
— Michael Palberg [32:44]
"[Machado] is on the right politically… She is also a very good organizer…has achieved this kind of mythic figure."
— Michael Palberg [34:58]
7. Voice of the Caribbean: Regional Solidarity & Action
[41:28–44:18]
- Andrew reflects on grassroots and societal response: regional demonstrations, declarations from progressive organizations, but concedes solidarity action is limited and resistance to US power feels daunting.
- The need for Caribbean unity against external interference and adherence to international law is stressed.
Key Quote:
"The US’s superpower status is almost akin to an Eldritch horror. It feels like it's unfathomable how you could even go about approaching that at times."
— Andrew [42:01]
8. Solidarity and Perspectives on US/Leftist Alliances
[44:18–49:50]
- Michael Palberg calls for international solidarity with people, not authoritarian states—pointing out that parts of the global left reflexively support rogue regimes to oppose US policy, often to the detriment of progressive causes.
- A generational split is noted within the Latin American left; newer leaders are more openly critical of Maduro.
- The collapse of the “campist” worldview, which reduces complex societies to proxies in a US vs. Russia/China contest.
Key Quotes:
"It is not helpful to view the world in this campist lens. I think…solidarity should be with the Venezuelan people."
— Michael Palberg [46:44]
"If there ever were to be democratic elections in Venezuela, it's pretty clear the country would turn to the right…and we shouldn't be surprised by that."
— Michael Palberg [48:21]
9. Media Coverage & Further Reading
[51:26–53:45]
- US media is critiqued for parochial, one-sided coverage.
- Andrew suggests following local Caribbean news outlets or grassroots pages on social media (Instagram: Vintage Caribbean, Trinbago for Palestine).
- Michael Palberg recommends: international outlets in Spanish/Portuguese (e.g., El País), Insight Crime for organized crime analysis, and cautions about being mindful of US political distraction tactics.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
"It's not opposition candidates who get blown up when they go fishing. It's regular working class Venezuelan people."
— Host [41:29] -
"I try to remind myself that people have fought and won… You know, currently there isn’t that much going on. There are murmurs—of fear, of disdain, of disagreement, of distrust."
— Andrew [42:18] -
"There's something to be said about strong men recognizing strong men. And a lot of these authoritarian lessons are not limited to one side of the ideological spectrum."
— Michael Palberg [49:29] -
“Our solidarity should be with [Venezuelan people], not with some strongman state. …This campist grayzone tendency on the American left specifically is incredibly toxic.”
— Host [49:50]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- US strikes & deaths overview: [03:29–05:16]
- Narcoterrorism narrative challenged: [05:16–07:05]
- Petro’s Colombia & US relations: [07:45–11:25]
- Trinidad & Tobago’s political crisis: [12:07–18:17]
- US regime change discourse: [24:39–30:03]
- Venezuela's opposition & politics: [22:58–36:51]
- Solidarity & resistance: [41:28–44:18]
- Critique of Western left’s ‘campism’: [44:18–49:50]
- Media & information sources: [51:26–53:45]
Recommendations & Resources
-
For Caribbean & grassroots perspectives:
- Instagram: @VintageCaribbean, @TrinbagoForPalestine
- Local news outlets for Trinidad & Tobago
-
For investigative/analytical reporting:
- Insight Crime (organized crime analysis)
- El País (Spain)
- Spanish/Portuguese news sources in Latin America
-
Panelists’ further work:
- Andrew: andrewsage.org, YouTube
- Michael Palberg: Twitter/X/BlueSky: @MPAARLBERG
Tone
The conversation is candid, urgent, and informed—mixing political analysis with on-the-ground context. There is a palpable sense of frustration at both US policy and the limitations of global solidarity, tempered by the panelists’ commitment to amplifying local voices and prioritizing people over governments.
Takeaway
This episode dismantles official US narratives, underscores the deadly impact of foreign intervention in the Caribbean, and calls for critical, people-centered solidarity—eschewing simplistic binaries and recognizing the agency and suffering of ordinary Caribbean and Venezuelan people.