External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed India’s apprehension regarding recent events in Venezuela, where American forces conducted airstrikes and apprehended then-President Nicolas Maduro along with his spouse in a bold military operation over the weekend. The minister has called upon all involved parties to engage in discussions and find a resolution that prioritizes Venezuelan citizens’ welfare.
Speaking at a function during his official trip to Luxembourg on Tuesday, Jaishankar emphasized India’s longstanding positive relationship with Venezuela spanning several decades.
“I think we put out a statement yesterday (Monday), I would urge you to look at it. What happened – if I can sum up the statement – is that we are concerned about the developments. But, we would really urge all the parties involved to now sit down and come to a position which is in the interest of the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela. At the end of the day, that is our concern,” the external affairs minister stated.
He further noted, “We would want Venezuela as a country with whom, over many, many years, we’ve had very good relations. We would like the people to come out well, whatever the direction of events.”
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement Monday declaring that recent Venezuelan developments constitute a matter of significant concern, with the government actively tracking the unfolding circumstances. India reiterated its commitment to Venezuelan citizens’ safety and wellbeing, calling on all stakeholders to resolve matters peacefully through negotiation while ensuring regional peace and stability. The Indian Embassy in Caracas maintains communication with the Indian diaspora and continues offering comprehensive assistance, the statement confirmed.
Authorities also released an advisory recommending Indian citizens avoid unnecessary travel to Venezuela given rising tensions. Indians currently in Venezuela were counseled to maintain heightened vigilance and limit their movements within the Latin American nation.
Maduro Arrested and Brought Before American Court
During a dramatic midnight raid on January 3, US Delta Force operatives launched airstrikes in Caracas and seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence within a military installation. The couple were transported to the United States, where Washington has filed drug-related accusations, including narco-terrorism charges, against them.
Appearing before a New York courtroom Monday, the 63-year-old Maduro entered a not guilty plea to all charges, claiming he was forcibly taken and “kidnapped.” Maintaining his status as Venezuela’s rightful leader, Maduro identified himself as a prisoner of war.
“I am a decent man, (I am) the president of my country. I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here,” he declared.
Flores similarly proclaimed her innocence, stating she was “not guilty” and “completely innocent” regarding all accusations leveled against her.
Maduro confronts four criminal charges: narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and unlawful possession of automatic weapons and explosive devices. Officials allege his participation in orchestrating cocaine distribution operations alongside organizations including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC insurgents, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal network.
The allegations also cite Maduro’s connections to influential transnational criminal enterprises and his purported exploitation of governmental assets for narcotics trafficking activities. The 63-year-old has repeatedly refuted these claims, maintaining “they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s rich oil reserves.”
Washington has long regarded Maduro as an illegitimate autocrat following his disputed 2018 electoral victory, widely criticized for numerous voting irregularities. Federal prosecutors in New York initially indicted Maduro in 2020, subsequently expanding the case with additional charges and co-defendants, including his wife Cilia Flores, in a revised indictment disclosed on January 3.
Prosecutors contend that Maduro’s purported criminal conduct commenced during his tenure in Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2000 and persisted throughout his subsequent positions as Foreign Minister and President after inheriting power from his political mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013.