St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has criticised the government of  Trinidad and Tobago for supporting U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, calling their stance “misguided.”

Speaking at a University of the West Indies forum on regional unity and free movement, Gonsalves said the U.S. airstrikes on small boats in the region could destabilise the Caribbean, especially if the goal is to remove Venezuela’s government. He warned that such actions could create chaos and allow “bad actors” to move into other countries.

The U.S. says the attacks targeted drug-smuggling boats headed for the U.S. and have killed 32 people so far, including two from Trinidad and Tobago. President Donald Trump said two survivors will be sent home soon.

Trinidad and Tobago’s government issued a statement over the weekend supporting the U.S. operation, saying it was aimed at fighting drug trafficking and other crimes, not harming innocent people.

However, Trinidad and Tobago did not sign a CARICOM declaration that reaffirmed the Caribbean as a “zone of peace” and urged peaceful solutions that respect each country’s sovereignty.

Gonsalves said this split among regional leaders showed weak coordination in foreign policy. He called for more diplomacy and stronger leadership, saying the region needs “statesmen and stateswomen” to close these divides.

He also praised the new agreement between Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines allowing free movement of people under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). But he noted that problems such as having too many different currencies still block deeper unity.

Other speakers at the event included Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Justice Anthony Gafoor, Dr. Indira Rampersad, and Ambassador Anthony Hylton.