New Delhi: India, on Thursday, raised concerns over the recent US raid on Venezuela, where its troops captured President Nicolas Maduro. The statement was made by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (local time), during his ongoing visit to Luxembourg. This marked the first strong public statement after the US actions in the South American country.
"Yes, we are concerned about developments in Venezuela. We would urge all parties to sit down and come to a position of well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela, because at the end of the day, that is our concern, and we would want Venezuela, the country with which, over many years, we have had very good relations. So we would like the people to come out well,” Jaishankar said on the sidelines of his meeting with Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Xavier Bettel, during which the two leaders reviewed bilateral ties.
What happened in Venezuela?
US President Donald Trump ordered the dead-of-night US military operation to capture Nicolas Maduro. To justify his actions, Trump dubbed it in the spirit of the United States to face drug charges. Although he exposed himself on Tuesday after Trump said his administration will now “run” Venezuela policy and is pressing the country's leaders to open its vast oil reserves to American energy companies.
India's tough stance on US raid on Venezuela
Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela and called for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. In a statement, the MEA said it was closely monitoring the developments in the country. "Recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. India reaffirms its support for the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela. We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region," the MEA said.
Why did India issue a strong reaction over Maduro's arrest?
1. India and Venezuela share a history of warm relations. There is a similarity of views on major international, political, and economic issues.
2. Resident Embassies have been in Caracas and New Delhi for over four decades. Though small, the Indian community in Venezuela is a priority. India issued a travel advisory post-operation, urging caution and avoiding non-essential travel, while monitoring the situation for citizen safety amid potential unrest.
3. India and Venezuela have been involved in bilateral trade for decades. The main items of India’s imports from Venezuela are mineral fuels and oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes, iron and steel, and aluminium.
4. As per the official data updated on the website of the Indian Embassy in Caracas, trade between both countries has decreased significantly in recent years.
5. In 2019, India’s exports to Venezuela were worth $340 million, whereas New Delhi imported $6,057 million of materials from Caracas. However, in 2023, the numbers came down to $175 million in export and $999 million in import. This is due to the US's continuous sanctions on Venezuela.
(With inputs from agency)