WILLEMSTAD - Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has suffered a significant geopolitical setback in the Caribbean following the electoral defeat of one of his most loyal regional allies, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Media outlets in St. Vincent confirmed that Gonsalves — who had governed since 2001 and was one of the most vocal defenders of chavismo in the Caribbean — lost the November 27 elections after 24 years in power.
The winner, Godwin Friday, leader of the center-right New Democratic Party (NDP), will become the country’s seventh prime minister since independence in 1979. His victory ends decades of dominance by Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party (ULP).
A Strategic Loss for Caracas
For Maduro, the result carries far-reaching consequences. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has long been one of Venezuela’s most reliable diplomatic allies, second only to Cuba in the Caribbean. Under Gonsalves, the island nation consistently backed Caracas in regional forums, supported ALBA initiatives, and opposed international sanctions.
Friday’s election marks a dramatic geopolitical shift:
Maduro loses a crucial ally at a moment of heightened international pressure — militarily, diplomatically, and legally.
Chavismo’s isolation deepens as one of its last steadfast Caribbean supporters exits the regional stage.
The new government is expected to adopt a more moderate and Western-aligned foreign policy, reducing Venezuela’s influence in the Eastern Caribbean.
Regional Impact
With tensions rising in the southern Caribbean — including U.S. military maneuvers, disputes over airspace near Venezuela, and growing instability in Guyana-Venezuela relations — the political shift in St. Vincent could reshape diplomatic alignments across the region.
For Curaçao and the broader Dutch Caribbean, the change may influence regional cooperation, security discussions, and the balance of political power at organizations including CARICOM and the OAS.
End of an Era
Ralph Gonsalves leaves office as one of the Caribbean’s longest-serving leaders and one of chavismo’s most enduring international defenders. His departure signals a weakening of Maduro’s diplomatic reach in the region — and a new political chapter for St. Vincent under Godwin Friday.
The geopolitical landscape of the Caribbean is changing, and Venezuela’s circle of allies continues to shrink.