India Expresses Deep Concern Over Venezuela Crisis Despite Strong Bilateral Ties: Jaishankar

India has expressed serious concern over the unfolding developments in Venezuela, even as it continues to maintain long-standing cordial relations with the Latin American nation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said New Delhi is deeply worried about the situation, particularly after the United States conducted a dramatic military operation last weekend that led to the detention of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Speaking during an official engagement in Luxembourg, Jaishankar underlined that India’s foremost priority remains the safety, stability, and welfare of the Venezuelan people. He reiterated India’s consistent position that complex political disputes should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means rather than through force or escalation.

“I believe we released an official statement yesterday (Monday), and I would strongly encourage everyone to carefully go through it,” Jaishankar said. “If I were to summarize our position, it is quite clear that we are worried about the recent events. At the same time, we strongly urge all concerned stakeholders to come together and arrive at a solution that is in the best interests of the Venezuelan people, their safety, and their overall well-being. That remains our primary concern.”

Emphasizing the depth of bilateral ties, the External Affairs Minister added that India has enjoyed a friendly and cooperative relationship with Venezuela for decades. “We would like Venezuela to be a country with whom we have had excellent relations for a very long time. Irrespective of how the political situation unfolds, we genuinely want the people of Venezuela to prosper and do well,” he said.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a detailed statement noting that the Indian government is closely tracking the changing ground situation in Venezuela. The MEA described the recent developments as a matter of serious concern and reiterated India’s commitment to regional peace and stability in Latin America.

“India reiterates its unwavering commitment to the security and welfare of the Venezuelan people. We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue and peaceful engagement to ensure regional stability,” the MEA statement said. It further added that the Indian Embassy in Caracas remains in constant touch with members of the Indian community and will continue extending all necessary assistance.

In view of the escalating tensions, the Indian government has also issued an advisory cautioning Indian nationals against non-essential travel to Venezuela. Those currently residing in the country have been advised to remain extremely vigilant, limit their movement, and strictly follow local advisories to ensure their personal safety.

Maduro Detained and Produced Before a US Court

The situation escalated dramatically on January 3, when US Delta Forces reportedly carried out targeted Airstrikes in Caracas as part of a late-night operation. The mission resulted in the detention of Nicolas Maduro and his wife from their residence located within a military base. Following the operation, both were airlifted to the United States.

Washington has accused Maduro and Flores of serious drug-related offenses, including narco-terrorism. The US government alleges that Maduro played a central role in facilitating large-scale cocaine trafficking into the United States in collaboration with multiple transnational criminal organizations.

Appearing before a New York court on Monday, the 63-year-old former Venezuelan leader pleaded not guilty to all charges. Maduro described his detention as a “kidnapping” and declared himself a prisoner of war, while continuing to assert that he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president.

“As the president of my nation, I am a good man. I am not guilty,” Maduro told the court. “I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here,” he said, firmly rejecting the accusations leveled against him.

His wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a plea of not guilty, stating that she is “completely innocent” of all charges brought against her by US authorities.

According to the indictment, Maduro faces four major charges, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns, and possession of destructive devices. US prosecutors allege that he coordinated drug trafficking operations with groups such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, Colombia’s FARC guerrillas, and Mexico-based cartels including Sinaloa and Los Zetas.

The charges further claim that Maduro abused state institutions and resources to facilitate drug trafficking and maintained close ties with powerful international criminal networks. Prosecutors argue that these activities spanned several years and intensified during his tenure as president.

Maduro has consistently denied all allegations, arguing that the charges are politically motivated and aimed at advancing what he calls “imperialist ambitions” over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

The United States has refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader since his 2018 re-election, which was marred by widespread allegations of electoral irregularities. US federal prosecutors first charged Maduro in New York in 2020. A revised and expanded indictment was unsealed on January 3 this year, adding new charges and naming additional co-defendants, including Cilia Flores.

According to US prosecutors, Maduro’s alleged criminal activities date back to the year 2000, when he was a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly. The accusations claim that these activities continued during his tenure as Foreign Minister and later as President, after he succeeded his political mentor, Hugo Chavez, in 2013.